Chapter 370 (1/2)
With a wide number of whispers dying back down, Minister of Magic Jenkins continued, ”Not only will this proposed initiative solve the Ministry of Magic's urgent need for departmental staffing, but offer more wizards and witches of our communities positions of employment within the Ministry of Magic which will ensure that stronger bonds will between forged between the public and the Ministry.”
There is nodding of approval on the faces of many in the crowd giving Minister Jenkins the strength to announce the trickiest part that had yet to come. ”In addition to the adult Education reform, there is a clause regarding our children.” All positive expressions suddenly grow hard and wary at the words of the Minister of Magic.
”For the first time in history, we have an incredibly high number of children and youths, who were not able to attend Hogwarts due to their previously cursed affliction,” Minister Jenkins matter-of-factly stated.
”As the Minister of Magic, I cannot ignore the plight of our children and of this future generation that has not been permitted to enter Hogwarts for the best of reasons, I understand. Notwithstanding these good intentions, these children and youths were denied an education and as the incumbent Minister of Magic, I cannot ignore their plight. As such, I advise that there be an education prevision that is to be immediately implanted no later than the start of the new year, but officially education will not comment until the start of August of the next year on the last week, before the Hogwarts term begins.”
Seeing the suddenly puzzled expressions, Minister Jenkins further explains, ”In addition, I suggest the following two clauses, the first being that the formerly afflicted children up to fifteen years of age be permitted to attend Hogwarts. All youths above these ages be they sixteen and older are more than welcome to apply for the offered Ministry of Magic's Adult Education program.
That being said, please allow me to further explain in detail my last statement. Next year, first years at Hogwarts will constitute the usual elven year old's, and a transfer child of the age of twelve. Second years will be compromised of same year students with transfer students ages thirteen and fourteen. And lastly, third years will be compromised of the same year students with transfer students aged fifteen.
This is the largest number of students Hogwarts will be capable of handling at a time. And it is impossible to ask more of the Professors unless the Hogwarts Board approves for the hiring of more professors. However, the Hogwarts Board is severely constrained in its actions as such, this is the present limit and capacity of what can be accomplished.”
Minister Jenkins takes a pause for a breath, before moving on. ”That being said, we finally come to the last clause. These transfer children that are proposed to enter Hogwarts at the start of the next year school term must receive a basic education and basic skills in under to catch up to their same year mates as best as they can. And as long as said potential Hogwarts students register for an education opportunity, there will be a certain leeway on underage magic to allow said transfer students the ability to catch up with their same year peers.”
”Therefore, in addition, it is strongly recommended that there be created a primary education in junction for all wizarding children. There are already delegates in mind to fill this incredibly important role, which are our formerly afflicted. For among them there is a wide variety of professionals with the skills to educate our children in the basics of magic, but also to educate them in regard to reading and other such subjects.”
There are nods of approval among the more progressive members of society, while others simply don't care. They could afford tutors for their own children and certainly wouldn't be sending their children to mingle with the riffraff. They had standards to think of after all.
Seeing the tension slowly bleeding out of the courtroom, Minister Jenkins sighed privately to herself, but did not show her relief on her face. ”And returning to the education topic in conjunction, I propose that four primary education schools be created, one in Ireland, one in Scotland, one in Wales, and one in Britain. These primary schools will begin a child's education at the same time muggle's do at the age of five in order to better create the illusion of being a regular school.”
There is a wide nodding of approval on many faces as a constant complaint from regular wizarding folk is that children were often homeschooled and not always taught at the same level of others. With a uniform education system in place, it would make everything much more streamlined than before. But also, possibly allow both parents to enter the working class rather than it being a single parent working household.