September 1st, 0312

[preanimator]

Returning to school is an interesting prospect, but I believe I have soured a bit on the concept this evening. If only the ignorant weren't so rampantly accepted - entrance exams for Hogwarts should be required, really, the way they do for Universities. Then, only the people who truly desired and could benefit from an education would be allowed. Perhaps something else could be arranged for those who did poorly on their exams. Everyone should be given the opportunity to better themselves, but I would rather they not get in the way of MY learning. There are no sacred places any more, I'm rapidly learning.

That being said, my summer went excellently, as my uncle Hans is, as ever, an enlightening and enlightened man. It's a shame he lives so far away, as I would visit him every holiday if I could. It would be nice to have someone to talk to about his work, but some things are just not meant to be, I guess.

Comments

[moveslikejaeger]

i bet more people would pass that exam than you think

[preanimator]

I highly doubt that. Ignorance seems to be a communicable disease these days.

[moveslikejaeger]

i think you have the wrong definition of ignorance

[preanimator]

It's a metaphor, Jaeger. I suppose that's beyond your limited scope.

[moveslikejaeger]

sure you was saying that you could become uninformed by being in the same room as someone else who was already uninformed
of course what you meant was willful ignorance or the decision to remain uniformed despite information being clearly presented before you
however ignorance is the default state of a human being and is not quantifiable via testing as testing relies on prior education
entry exams for eleven year olds would result largely in only pureblood and a small number of halfblood wizards being accepted into hogwarts as they would be the only ones with an exposure to magic at the time of acceptance
what this would ultimately mean is that i would pass the test
and you probably would not

[wwistful]

I'm sure you'll endure far worse than a slow learning curve in your lifetime, West.

[Mostly the swirlies this entry will earn you, but that goes without saying]

[preanimator]

I'm sure I will, as well. But it seemed a pertinent complaint at the time.

[wwistful]

Life is teeming with under-achievers with little aspiration, it's better if you adjust to it now.

[preanimator]

If you're asking me to develop an indifferent attitude towards idiots, I'm afraid I'll have to decline, sir.

[wwistful]

If you insist. In any case, a school like Hogwarts isn't subject to entrance exams because a great deal of the students are far too young to have gathered a bare minimum of information.

That, coupled with the under educated muggleborns with no prior magical experience and the simple fact that there is no set standard of education for children under tweleve, would make an entrance exam a shambles.

Unless you meant in terms of literacy and numeracy, in which case it would seem that the wizarding world doesn't hold such skills in high regard.

[doctorkishitani]

Hello West!

I'm glad you enjoyed your summer, but it is a shame that you can't talk to your uncle more often. Have you thought about owling him? I know that isn't really the same thing, but it does help.

[preanimator]

Owls sometimes go missing with him, or the letters. He's really a very busy man, though we do exchange correspondence on occasion.

[fuckilovebooks]

That's ridiculous. Everyone deserves the benefit of an education.

Not to mention without proper magical training, young witches and wizards could put themselves and their communities at risk as their magic develops.

[preanimator]

Hence, if you would read my entire entry, the suggestion of alternate schooling for those less adept. Perhaps something more like a trade school, with less theory and more practical application.

[fuckilovebooks]

I read it, but I don't agree with it. Hogwarts is arguably the best magical school in Europe. Creating a new school for students who don't measure up to your standards would only take away resources from both, and diminish the quality of education for everyone.

Meanwhile, you can talk to your professors about giving you extra assignments if you aren't feeling intellectually stimulated. In my experience, they're usually thrilled to see a student taking interest.

[preanimator]

I already do a good deal of extra work - that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about the general level of ignorance of the student population, and how they waste time in classes with pointless questions that they could easily answer for themselves if they'd just pay attention or do the reading. Frankly, I don't see how another school would diminish the resources, if managed properly. There are ways to pay for these things. And I'm certain some of the students would be happy to go elsewhere, to an environment where they're not required to do so much reading or write essays.

[taleweaving]

I do find myself agreeing with Twilight, Maxim and Professor Donoghue, Her8et. To exclude certain students due to something you consider "ignorance" would only worsen the pro8lem. As for testing, I'm sure everyone has already pointed out the flaws in testing via magical means, with muggle8orns 8eing extremely excluded. And often pure8loods are only given the 8are minimum of literacy and numeracy skills, as other muggle su8jects are considered unimportant in a wizard's eyes. In such, the wizards themselves are my ignorant, as there is a lot of interesting information to 8e learned, such as muggle history or science. And then there are others who simply do no test well. Or are intelligent in ways that intelligence tests do not cover. We all have a different way of thinking after all. And we all learn in different styles.

Trade schools do not seem like that would 8e practical. 8oth the readings and essays are needed, in the amounts we are given as they help strengthen our theoretical knowledge. To merely focus on the practical aspects means that we will have a selection of wizards who have no true understanding of what the potion they are creating will do, or the many different types of spell work.And asking questions in class should 8e seen as a 8enefit, as perhaps there will 8e other students in the class who do not truly grasp concepts 8ut are too frightened of 8eing judged to ask themselves. Thus the other student asking will aid them too.

You shouldn't 8e so judgemental you know. If it annoys you so much perhaps you should offer a helping hand to the students who struggle. Perhaps with assistance from a peer they will strengthen their understanding and require less time from "your" learning.

[preanimator]

Trust you, Serket, to use hundreds of words when fifty would do. I won't go into detail about intelligence tests - you would understand my point if you'd read the other conversations properly. But you're basing your argument on a false premise. I hate to break the news to you, but not everyone is created equal. Perhaps the ridiculous amount of American students in an English school have been rubbing off on you.

We ALREADY have a selection of wizards and witches with no true understanding of the magic they can work. And will continue to do so, because demanding theoretical work and reading from uninterested or stupid people does not actually make them the equivalent of people who can learn those sorts of things. Many people graduate from Hogwarts already who get poor marks on their NEWTs and will go on to lead ordinary, boring lives. I'm just saying let's stop wasting their time and ours. All this idealistic thinking is very pretty and makes you feel very good about yourself and how egalitarian you are, I'm sure, but I prefer to be realistic.

[taleweaving]

Usually, West, if you insist on sticking to 8lunt surnames despite sharing a house with me for 5 years, I would apologise, for not attempting to 8e concise. 8ut to 8e truthful I felt like all those words were necessary. And I'm afraid I simply did not have the time to pour over every single words you have written or has 8een written in response to your original post to analyse all the potential meanings. And once again I disagree with you, in a way. We may not have all 8een 8orn into to equal starting positions, we do all come from a myriad of 8ackgrounds and up8ringings, 8ut that doesn't mean we shouldn't 8e given equal chances to succeed, where such chances are possi8le. Perhaps your sno88ery is making that something impossi8le for you to see, and if it is I feel quite sorry for you.

Perhaps if we did not have wizards like you thinking they deserve more than everyone else we wouldn't have that issue. If you feel so strongly a8out 8eing a8ove the average of your year, perhaps you should talk to the professors and the Headmaster, and see if you can 8e moved into your NEWT year sooner rather than later. Then you can speed through and graduate and go to live a life you seem so sure will 8e unaverage and exciting. Perhaps the lives you see as such a waste of time are quite enjoya8le and exciting to those who live them You may consider it idealistic, 8ut your ideas or realism, are, in my opinion rude and fuelled 8y sno88ery.

Sometimes I am surprised you were not sorted into Slytherin, to 8e frank.

Was that too many words for you again, West?

[preanimator]

[Aw, don't be offended by the surname thing, Aranea, Herbert does that to everyone except maybe two or three other people. He's just that kind of guy. But feel free to be offended by his other stuff!]

It really was. I have so many better things to do than listen to your diatribe about equality. So I'll leave you to it, I'm sure you can find a rapt audience to tell you how wonderful you are elsewhere.

[taleweaving]

[She's already plenty offended. If she was a pranker like some of her friends, you'd be getting a fierce pranking. Or something.

Oh man MSMS is going to be lots of fun.]

I feel sorry for your reading level then. 8ut if you have 8etter things to do with your time, do go. I hope that you enjoy it. I'm sure you'll find your own mental company much more agreea8le to your thoughs. Good day.

[pomodoroo]

Someone sure does seem to be holding themselves up on a high horse here.

[preanimator]

I have the marks to back it up. Am I supposed to act stupid to make the rest of you feel more comfortable? I don't see anyone scolding the Quidditch players when they brag about their accomplishments on the field. People throw THEM parties. I'm not going to pretend to be humble about all the hard work I do, nor the fact that I'm clearly one of the more intelligent people at the school.

[pomodoroo]

Being proud of yourself and being a pretentious asshole about it are two different things though.

[preanimator]

I believe you should examine your dictionary, Vargas.