What's the point of Hogwarts?

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 127696


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "sandra87b" <sandra87b at y...> wrote:

> 
> ...I'm still in the dark. ...what can they actually do for the 
> rest of their lives? They can only go to wizard-related 
> universities, work in wizard-related industries in the 
> wizard-world... because if they live in the muggle world, all the 
> years of magic-training is worthless. I just think JKR has created 
> a poorly thought out world, that's all.
> 
> Sandra

bboyminn:

I'm sure by now you've read my other reply to your original post which
admittedly was quite long. I do see the basis of what you are saying,
but you seem to be taking that basic idea to an extreme. Exactly why
can't Hogwarts graduates work in the muggle world, and why is the
magic-training worthless?

Yes, if is more difficult for a Hogwarts graduate to follow the
standard path of education, job and career, but wizards are not
completely illiterate. They have reasonable proficiency in reading,
writing, and basic math. Though admittedly somewhat lacking in muggle
history, arts, and sciences. But how would that prevent Hermione from
opening a small business, or going into business partnership with
someone else. Certainly there are many many people in the world who
are hugely successful who don't follow the standard generic muggle
career path.

And I'm not sure what you mean by magic-training being worthless.
Something else you said in you original post implies that if they live
a muggle life they could never-ever use magic, which isn't true. If
you mean they couldn't apply their magic-training to a muggle job,
that is mostly true, but not completely so, and it certainly doesn't
mean that they can't apply their general intelligence and talent to
any desired muggle pursuit.

I agree that only being a Hogwarts graduate, does limit your ability
to work in the muggle world, but that limitation applies mostly to
pursuing a very conventional career path. There are many many
opportunities for less conventional means of earning a substantial
living in the muggle world that are open to wizards.

So, to some extent, I do agree with your basic idea, but I think you
are blowing it out of proportion; making it more than it really is.

Just one man's opinion.

Steve/bboyminn