Classical English Education System of Doxbridge Reflected in Harry Potter

Classical English Education System of Doxbridge Reflected In Harry Potter

Student Name: He Shan

Student Number: 2014141051027

Student Class: Class Five 2014

Tutor: Xiaoli, Fang

June 18, 15

 A Survey of The United Kingdom

English Major

Foreign Languages and Cultures Department

Sichuan University

Abstract

English classical education system has a history of more then a thousand years and it still remains in the top three universities, Oxford, Cambridge and Durham. Thousands of successful figures have been taught and greatly benefited from the system. Hogwarts in Harry Potter is adapting the same education system though it is a magical school for wizard in J.K Rowling’s imaginations. She reveals the system in a more attractive and charming way by adding a lot of magic element in it. While having fun, we learnt a lot about English educational culture from the seven episodes. This essay mainly emphasize on finding the similarities of classical university education between the top three old school, Doxbridge, and Hogwarts. And it was divided into two parts, collegiate system and education methods.

Key words: Education system, Harry Potter, Doxbridge, traditions, university

Introduction

Harry potter is an amazing serious of novels that started most teenagers’ fantasy about The Great Britain. Beside a magic world and a long-tern battle between the good and evil, audiences were all impressed by the magnificent castle，Hogwarts，the home of all the intelligent Wizardry and where the most of the stories take place. The real Hogwarts is actually a combination of Oxford and Durham universities. The two universities plus University of Cambridge forms a powerful trio named Doxbridge that symbolized the highest level of university education in the UK. Unlike the universities set up after the industrial revolutions under the control of modern education systems, the three schools remain their traditional way of running since where they begin, almost a thousand years ago. Hogwarts, a school stared in J.K Rowling’s imaginary, has a lot in commend with the English university education. The specific analysis and explanations will be introduced one by one.

Body

Collegiate System

·Choice your own college

 “You might belong in Gryffindor, Where dwell the brave at heart, their daring, nerve, and chivalry Set Gryffindors apart.” At the first official dinner, the freshman little Harry was been put under the smartest hat of the world, the sorting hat. After hearing his pray, he was sorted to Gryffindor staying with his best friend Hermione and Ron instead of Slytherin. Hogwarts was divided into four colleges, Gryffindor symbolized bravery, Slytherin symbolized ambition, Ravenclaw symbolized wisdom and Hufflepuff symbolized loyalty. Every student will be divided into one of the college according to their personality by the magical mind-reading hat at the sorting ceremony. In Oxford, the university had been divided into 31 different colleges, which lie in all sides of the city. The collegiate system has nothing to do with one’s major and it is parallel to the department system. Every college is a unique unit with its own history, culture and management system. Students who get in to Oxford can apply for his or her favorite college according to the information given out on the Oxford handbook.

·Autonomy

No matter how much Snape hated Harry and his two little fellows, the only thing he could do is to embarrassed them on Potions class and give them an F for final. He could never give out any real punishment to any of them because he is the head of the Slytherin not Gryffindor. Just like Hogwarts, the colleges in Doxbridge are independent and highly autonomous. Each college has their own administration and an own set of rules and restrictions. The school departments were all funded by the government and publicize nowadays but colleges remains private and supported by donations and tuition fees. They gain more financial freedom to hire their staff. Every student will have a tutor and a consular from college other then their major. They will answer questions and provide solution for anything include but not limited to study.  College can also choose student according to their own standards. If you fail to get in any of the college, you won’t have the qualification to study in Doxbridge even you receive an offer from one of the department.

·A Huge Family

After the sorting ceremony, little Harry was led to the dorm of Gryffindors guarded by a portrait, fat lady. Only Gryffindors know the constantly changed code of the common room, a sweet and warm place where the three wizardries held most of their secret meetings. Take different classes, learning different knowledge, they lived together for all seven school years. Any of their performance on academy, sports, daily behavior and other activities will greatly affect the score of the college, which related to winner of the House cup. That’s why Hermione was so active to answer the question in class and Harry was fighting so hard for Quidditch Cup. Also when everyone suspected Harry for he had something to do with the chamber and the dead girl, Gryffindors trust him and support him as usual. Just the same as Harry potter, colleges in English university are huge families. In here, you will met a lot of people have the same interests, share similar personalities with you. You lived, study, entertain and socialize together in the same common room for couple of years. One will gain a sense of belonging from the right beginning after a grand welcoming party until the college graduation (the graduation was not held together with the department) and may met some life-long friends since then just like Harry, Hermione and Ron.

·Gowns

Not until little Harry put on his black gown and armed with his wand we feel like he truly became a man of endless power. We considered gown as a symbol of magic. It gives people a sense of mystery and dignity. However, gown is not a privilege of wizard. In school year of Doxbridge, you will see people wear gowns walking around with excited facial expression couple of times a year besides Halloween. Actually, a gown wouldn’t be considered as a dress-up for Halloween because that highly disrespectful to it. The black long silk-made cape covers one from neck to ankle represent the respect to the host and an honor to be invited. Students are required to wear them in opening ceremony of the school years, graduation, formal dinner with professors and even final exam for special subject. Gowns have been considered to be a charming tradition for Doxbridge.