American Hogwarts is Having Problems

America is getting its own Hogwarts but it's still an American school.

By TIM JENNINGS Nov 04, 2015 8:09 PMTags
E! Placeholder Image

Ok, adults with an unhealthy interest in Harry Potter, listen. As you already know, the next movie set in the Harry Potter universe Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will feature a wizarding school set right here in the good ole U. S. of 'Merica. That's right. American wizard kids. You love that don't you, you giant Gryffindor-scarf-wearing losers...I'm so sorry. That was uncalled for.

While we're sure the school is just as magical as Hogwarts, we've got some bad news. Aside from the fact that many fans are up in arms over the U.S. students preferring the term "No-Maj" (as in No Magic) to "Muggle", this is still an American school and is already facing numerous challenges as a result.

First of all, let's talk about funding. There isn't any. The building itself is in desperate need of repairs for various magic related issues, the Quidditch field is pretty much just a dirt lot and the students are in classes of up to 40 other wizard kids. Is it unfortunate? Yes, but there will be no money to remedy these problems without raising the magical taxes of the wizards, witches, warlocks and mythical beings in the surrounding area. However, many of those households don't even have any wizard kids in the school so as soon as you talk about raising their magical taxes for school improvements, they're all like, "Eat a Dementor you mud-blood."

Having a diverse curriculum for the student has always been a high priority for American Hogwarts...until recently. Due to budget cutbacks, classes such as "Survey of Muggle Art" and "Enchanted Instruments Jazz Band" have been cut. Field Hockey is also gone.

Finally, and I'm trying to find a delicate way to put this, the reliance on standardized O.W.L. tests and arbitrary magication guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Magic have left our wizard kids, well, dumb. A lot of them are dumb. Most of them can't even perform a simple shielding charm and a lot of those kids think a Patronus is the stuff their dad only drinks when company is over. Did you know we're 25th in the world when it comes to potions? Awful. C'mon, magical parents. Maybe take away the flaming hot Cheetos toads for a second and join your wizard kid for some divination practice. I know you're tired. The magical corporations have engineered a system where you're paid just enough to eke by but not enough to get ahead. And I realize you grew up being lead to believe you could be a rich and famous wizard no matter what and therefore resent the normal life you have as you bury your head in your cell phone along with the rest of your wizarding family no matter where you are in the wizarding world but pull it together. We're talking about the wizarding future of these wizarding kids. Be there for them...Wait. Am I still talking about American Hogwarts?...Yeah. I guess.

Anyway, like I said, America is getting its own wizarding school in the new Harry Potter movie. Pretty exciting.

PS - This year, Defense Against the Dark Arts will feature a chapter on Creationism.

 

Latest News