British school children and sterotypes (was many other things - long thread)

[Goddlefrood]

No: HPFGUIDX 184066

> > > Potioncat:
> > > Keep in mind, Hogwarts exists in a culture that favors 
> > > boarding schools. snip

> > Geoff:
> > Are you suggesting that UK culture favours public schools 
> > which accommodate boarders?
<SNIP - statistics of a sort>

> Potioncat, taking off her stereoptic glasses:
> Really? Too many old novels, too many old TV shows.
<SNIP>
> Does it tell us anything about the Dursleys that Dudley went 
> to a boarding school?

Goddlefrood:

It is true, as pointed out by Geoff, that only a very small 
number of students board in the UK. I was one of the fortunate 
(or unfortunate depending how one views it) few who did board, 
but around a fifth of the school were day students local to the 
town in which the school was situated. As an aside, I did wonder 
why there were no day students at Hogwarts, given that the denizens 
of Hogsmeade presumably had a child or two amongst them. Maybe 
they all boarded at Hogwarts, or maybe they were simply never 
mentioned.

However, in terms of the wizarding world, and no doubt this is 
what Potioncat really meant despite her admision, the norm is 
to board rather than to be home schooled. So that's alright 
then and there's no reason to be embarrassed.

Vernon and Petunia were, no doubt, secretly relieved to get shot 
of Dudley for a good part of the year.

> Potioncat, wondering now if they really drink a lot of tea 
> across the pond.

Goddlefrood:

Gallons of it, but coffee is apparently available now.