Goblins, British school children and sterotypes ( was, Re: Muggle Parents and

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 184067

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "potioncat" <willsonkmom at ...> wrote:

Geoff:
> > Are you suggesting that UK culture favours public schools which 
> > accommodate boarders? It ought to be pointed out that the numbers 
> > of pupils in boarding schools is a tiny minority. The vast majority 
> of 
> > young people in the UK attend day schools - mainly state although 
> > there are some public day schools, again very much in a minority.
 
Potioncat:
> Really? Too many old novels, too many old TV shows. A couple of 
> interviews from JKR and Emma Thompson I don't know why but I really 
> did think the norm was boarding schools. 
> 
> Those stereotypes can sneak right up on you!
> 
> Does it tell us anything about the Dursleys that Dudley went to a 
> boarding school?

Geoff:
Probably. It smacks of a little bit of snobbery - one upmanship on the 
neighbours. Petunia and Vernon do seem to want to be slightly better 
than the rest. Although, Dudley didn't go to Smeltings until he reached 
the age at which pupils in the Little Whinging area transferred to 
secondary school in the state sector.

It's interesting that they didn't pack him off to a public preparatory 
school at nine.
 
> Potioncat, wondering now if they really drink a lot of tea across the 
> pond.

Geoff:
Yes.