My Erks of american Potter fanfiction writers
Now I know americans have a bit of a problem getting into the mindset of the english system, so i have created a list to help. This mainly relates to "AU /neglected harry" area of the fandom, though can be put into use for other writers.
Rules of the English system:
1. Schooling is FREE, Period. Yes parents can pay for public schools, but any kid can be carted off the local council run school from reception age plus, maybe even half day nursery’s before if such is available. Price IS NOT a viable reason for the Dursleys to keep “neglected Harry” from schooling.
2. In England we have the NHS, this is a FREE medical service for medical costs if you are under 16, and seriously reduced costs (compared to USA) for the rest of us UK citizens. Therefore Cost IS NOT a viable reason for the Dursleys to keep “neglected Harry” from being treated at a hospital. I will accept they didn’t want people to realise how they had been treating him, but not COST.
3. The NHS coves all medical costs INCLUDING eye care (glasses) and dentists, however the glasses provided for free are extremely unstylish (especially back in the 80’s-90’s). Therefore as soon as “neglected Harry” had problems, they would still have been dealt with, especially because schools tend to have there own tests carried out between age 5 and 8 when children are most venerable.
4. There is NO WAY the Dursleys would hold enough social status in order to “hush up” teacher raising concerns over child abuse. It is much more plausible that “neglected Harry’s” teachers either didn’t notice some hidden abuse, or shrugged him off as a shy child without a strong family life. Child abuse is taken very seriously in the UK when suspicions are raised, even back in the early 90’s
Rules of the English system:
1. Schooling is FREE, Period. Yes parents can pay for public schools, but any kid can be carted off the local council run school from reception age plus, maybe even half day nursery’s before if such is available. Price IS NOT a viable reason for the Dursleys to keep “neglected Harry” from schooling.
2. In England we have the NHS, this is a FREE medical service for medical costs if you are under 16, and seriously reduced costs (compared to USA) for the rest of us UK citizens. Therefore Cost IS NOT a viable reason for the Dursleys to keep “neglected Harry” from being treated at a hospital. I will accept they didn’t want people to realise how they had been treating him, but not COST.
3. The NHS coves all medical costs INCLUDING eye care (glasses) and dentists, however the glasses provided for free are extremely unstylish (especially back in the 80’s-90’s). Therefore as soon as “neglected Harry” had problems, they would still have been dealt with, especially because schools tend to have there own tests carried out between age 5 and 8 when children are most venerable.
4. There is NO WAY the Dursleys would hold enough social status in order to “hush up” teacher raising concerns over child abuse. It is much more plausible that “neglected Harry’s” teachers either didn’t notice some hidden abuse, or shrugged him off as a shy child without a strong family life. Child abuse is taken very seriously in the UK when suspicions are raised, even back in the early 90’s