Jeremiah 'I swear he is a girl' Smith (smiting) wrote in blurred_media, @ 2009-07-10 10:35:00 |
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Entry tags: | ! [1980-07] july, jeremiah smith, news: independent |
Hogsmeade Herald - 10 July 1980
WIZARDING ORPHANAGE BILL TO BE PROPOSED TO THE WIZENGAMOT STANDARDS TO BE SET AND ENFORCED TO PROTECT PARENTLESS CHILDREN Jeremiah Smith LONDON - This past Thursday, a press conference hosted by the Foundation for the Promotion of Wizarding Society and Culture announced that the group will be presenting a bill before the Wizengamot tomorrow in order to improve the conditions of various magical orphanages in Great Britain and Ireland, none of which are currently regulated. 'The Foundation has always strived to serve the community in every possible way, and this new orphanage will provide the less-fortunate children of our community with a future they deserve,' noted Narcissa Malfoy, the head and founder of the Foundation. The bill, if passed and enshrined in law, will be called the Wizarding Orphanage Commitment of Care and Competence Act and set a number of standards to ensure that the care and facilities provided to the children in the orphanages is of high quality and beneficial to their growth and development. The individuals bringing forth the proposal to the Wizengamot are Lucinda Greengrass, a representative of the Foundation, and Marius Lestrange, Under-secretary for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. 'Many orphanages in this country are run by corrupt souls, who care solely for the funds from the Ministry, and nothing for the children,' said Mrs Greengrass. 'It is people like this who must be stopped. Orphans deserve as good of a life as any child. This bill is necessary to protect those who can not protect themselves.' Mr Lestrange added, 'The Ministry has a long history of ignoring the needs of our youngest magical citizens, but no more. The new administration cares deeply for all children and is seeking to rectify the inequalities of the past with the new Orphanage Bill. It is time to put dissension and separatism aside to join together to do what is best for our future.' The standards in the proposed bill including the following requirements: There are currently eight wizarding orphanages located in different settlements throughout Great Britain and Ireland, and the Hogsmeade Herald investigated each one to see if any currently meet the proposed criteria for continuing operation. Five orphanages refused to comment or allow reporters to take a look at the facilities or speak with staff. Of the remaining three, the Gunhilda Orphanage in Gorsemoor and the Little Flitterbloom Garden of Love and Care near Godric's Hollow had several beds being shared by two children each and educators with only a minimum of three OWLs each respectively, in addition to facilities being of questionable hygiene. Only the Dilys Derwent Home for Wayward Children in Upper Flagley had an appropriate supervisor-to-children ratio of 1:25, individual beds, and three meals a day for each child, although the nutritional information for each meal was not provided. There was no health or sanitation record, and while most facilities appeared to be relatively clean, the lavatories were somewhat dilapidated. Child educators each had a minimum of three NEWTs. In the words of politician Araminta Meliflua, 'The substandard quality of our orphanages cannot continue. This bill will revolutionize the way orphanages are run, and will ensure the best care for the children. Just because they are parentless does not mean they do not deserve the best of care.' As mentioned previously, the bill for the Wizarding Orphanage Commitment of Care and Competence Act will be brought before the Wizengamot tomorrow for deliberation. Any questions or requests for additional information are to be directed to Lucinda Greengrass, the bill's representative for the Foundation for the Promotion of Wizarding Society and Culture. |