The 8th Floor Mods (ministry_mod) wrote in frontpagenews, @ 2012-03-29 16:55:00 |
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By Nelson Coughlan |
There has been a challenge to this month's proposal to create a school for children who are too young to attend Hogwarts. The original proposal, accepted on 8 March, would be for a school that taught students reading, writing and maths along with offering magic-free lessons in the subjects taught at Hogwarts. "History of Magic doesn't require a wand," Head of Hufflepuff and Hogwarts' Herbology Professor Pomona Sprout reminded the Daily Prophet on 8 March, "and neither does Astronomy. There's plenty about the theory of Potions, Charms and Transfiguration that can be learnt without magic as well. What I think the students will really enjoy is digging around in the dirt for some simple Herbology and meeting some nice flobberworms and horklumps in Care of Magical Creatures." The new proposal, presented by former Minister for Magic hopeful Mary Cattermole, would focus on educating students in many of the subjects covered by muggle schools for children the same age. "There are a lot of wizards who don't really understand muggle education or how valuable it is. You can't just replace genuine muggle schools with schools that don't even bother to teach science, muggle history, geography, music, physical education and a whole host of other subjects. It's insulting and problematic," Cattermole said. "And that's without even touching on the inherent inequality of offering pure- and half-blood students a Ministry-funded leg up before they even get to Hogwarts." Teachers would have muggle experience and credentials, but knowledge of the wizarding world. The three teachers already committed to the project are a squib, the muggle wife of a wizard and the brother of a muggleborn witch. After hearing the new proposal, Ministry officials decided to postpone the funding of the original school and give both the opportunity to run for one month under Ministry supervision. The schools will have the month of April to raise funds, find a venue, enroll students and prepare their curriculum, and will then be observed in action throughout the month of May. After both schools are evaluated, the Ministry will choose one to go forward. The school chosen will receive Ministry funding and resources and will officially open 1 September. "It's only fair that everyone gets the opportunity to share their ideas," Sprout said when asked about the change, "so I'm not bothered by the setback. Still, I do hope the Ministry settles on us in the end because I believe ours is the best possible solution." Story continues on page four. |