The Quality of a Hogwarts Education

[Susan A]

No: HPFGUIDX 188257

SSSusan:
> > ...  Because my question is:  Are you not simply projecting 
> > *your* definition of what a successful and fulfilling life looks 
> > like for someone born to well-educated professionals onto 
> > Hermione?...
> > 
> > Simply because there is a tendency for a well-educated 
> > professional to breed (or raise) another doesn't mean it's a 
> > given, nor that for each individual child of well-educated 
> > professionals, those desires are internalized.  Some find other 
> > things makes their lives fulfilling.  That's what I'm 
> > questioning.  How do we KNOW Hermione felt as you suggest?  It 
> > seems presumptive to me, is all.

bboyminn:
> I think Rick is out of the country now, but maybe he will
> follow the thread on-line rather than by email.

SSSusan:
Thanks, Steve. :)


bboyminn: 
> I can see a degree of Rick's point, but I think mostly I tend
> to side with SSSusan.
> 
> Perhaps Rick's points is not so much about Hermione, but the
> world expectations for Hermione. I think we can see this in
> real life. A kid has a job he loves doing something he loves
> to do, but his parents, friends, and relatives think he is
> wasting his time. Not that uncommon.
>
> So, if that is his point, then to some extent I can agree
> that Hermione's life probably doesn't live up to the 
> expectations of others.

SSSusan:
Absolutely.  If that's the point, I agree that the *world* may make such judgments. 

But I'm with you, Steve.  Heck, *I* have degrees I'm not using; I'm in a job that's not the greatest-paying and which is significantly "less" than what I'm qualified for.  By some people's reckoning, surely I must be disappointed, discouraged, unfulfilled.  But I don't really feel that way.  Well, heh, other than maybe wishing I earned more. ;)  

My life feels fulfilling to me, even though I'm not using specific talents, skills, training, education that I've had.  The world may have had other expectations for me, and perhaps all the moreso because my parents are well-educated professionals, and yet I don't feel unfulfilled or unsuccessful.  Maybe this is why I have questioned what Rick has been saying and is why I have asked whether we have clues from canon itself that Hermione herself is dissatisfied or truly likely to be dissatisfied.


bboyminn:
> But Rick says specifically - 
> 
> "I just don't see Hg really working out in the WW or being
> happy with a high school education, ..."
> 
> My earlier point, that I made more than once, is that
> Hermione, nor Harry, nor anyone, is locked into an all or
> nothing situation. Hermione is not imprisoned in the Magic
> world. If she wants to go to university, I think she can
> find a way. 

SSSusan:
And I agree with this.  There may be particular courses of study which she would rule out if she wanted to stay primarily in the WW [dentistry, for once... although heaven knows we encounter an awful lot of W&W who have lousy teeth ;)], but if she wanted RW university, if it would make her life more full, I agree that she could probably make it happen.  In fact, it would be easier for the Muggle-born to do this, would it not?  Having spent the first 11 years of their lives living fully in the RW and knowing the ropes, as it were?

bboyminn: 
> Also, depending on the muggle profession she is interested in,
> she may be able to develop the necessary skills without a
> certification from an education institution. There are 
> countless options open to her, and I suspect an ambitions
> intelligent person like Hermione would have no problem
> gaining a foothold in the muggle world if she chose to do
> so.
> 
> Again, Hermione is exiled to the wizard world, she can come
> and go as she pleases, and most probable does.

SSSusan:
I am assuming you meant "*not* exiled to the WW" here, and I agree with you wholeheartedly.

Siriusly Snapey Susan