The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers
Wizard Academy
dspringer1:
It is pretty clear that wizards are old school. They teach via the ancient model of apprentice/master. But times have moved on. We have seen with Luccio that they created a boot camp for new wardens that was quite successful. I can see the possibility that they extend that model to create a wizard academy to more easily train wizards in larger numbers. Something like this would be essential if Harry's ideas regarding training Paranet members is implemented.
How would such a magical academy work? I doubt it would be very Harry Potter, but I can see something comparable to a old style college format. A dozen different "schools" each focused on a particular discipline that combines lecture and practice. Each taught by an expert in that type of magic. Everybody takes the basics, but students generally continue in a specific school based on success/skill/aptitude.
They certainly do not have enough students right now to have a dozen concurrent schools taught, but they could teach a few schools every month and just alternate. As student populations increase, they can run more classes concurrently.
The advanced classes might continue via the apprentice model - especially as the WC is still paranoid about wizards misusing their power. They would want experienced wizards to personally evaluate candidates before teaching them advanced magical techniques.
SintraEdrien:
Yes, but the real question is, how much would it torment Harry for this to occur? *evil grin*. But I think the closest JB has touched on this possibility is with the side-line of stories regarding Maggie/Mouse and their school "for the gifted".
LordDresden2:
--- Quote from: dspringer1 on July 10, 2017, 11:06:51 PM ---It is pretty clear that wizards are old school. They teach via the ancient model of apprentice/master. But times have moved on. We have seen with Luccio that they created a boot camp for new wardens that was quite successful. I can see the possibility that they extend that model to create a wizard academy to more easily train wizards in larger numbers. Something like this would be essential if Harry's ideas regarding training Paranet members is implemented.
How would such a magical academy work? I doubt it would be very Harry Potter, but I can see something comparable to a old style college format. A dozen different "schools" each focused on a particular discipline that combines lecture and practice. Each taught by an expert in that type of magic. Everybody takes the basics, but students generally continue in a specific school based on success/skill/aptitude.
--- End quote ---
--- Quote ---
The advanced classes might continue via the apprentice model - especially as the WC is still paranoid about wizards misusing their power. They would want experienced wizards to personally evaluate candidates before teaching them advanced magical techniques.
--- End quote ---
You could probably set something like that up, with very basic training done en masse, using standardized approaches. But as above, I think magic is probably something best learned one-on-one or one-on-few once you get past the basics.
A further complication would be that the various kinds of Wizards in the Council, with their various national/ethnic/religious/historical backgrounds, probably have very different approaches to and methods with magic. It might prove to be very hard to standardize even the basics. Somehow I suspect that Ancient Mai, Injun Joe, and Arthur Langtry would define the 'basics' very differently.
The hardest part would be selecting the candidates, though.
Zaphodess:
Luccio's boot camp was chosen several times by the Red Court as a target, though. Even without a war going on, a school full of untrained wizards is a juicy target if you want to hurt the WC.
It's possible that some wizards do teach their apprentices together in seminar-style from time to time. Why bother teaching your apprentice potions if your friend is a master alchemist but you are a master enchanter. In turn, their apprentices come over sometimes and get instructions in enchanting from you. Or they might take turns in teaching theory that can be done in greater groups. It would mean less work for each individual master, so there's a huge benefit for the masters and better teaching for the apprentices, who receive expert training on all subjects. Besides: both masters and apprentices have the opportunity to do some networking.
We didn't see something like that in the books because Justin isolated his apprentices from other wizards and both Harry and Molly were warlocks who hardly any other wizard would have offered to teach. But Listens to Wind once offered teaching Molly some healing magic, so it might not be uncommon to get training from someone besides your individual master.
btw: The apprentice system may be very old, but that doesn't mean it isn't efficient. If it ain't broken, why fix it? As magic is often very personal, a personal one on one instruction might just be mandative for some things.
Anubissama:
Seeing as with the population explosion there will be more and more Wizard-level talents out there a move to a more group-oriented teaching is likely.
I think a Jedi model would work the best. Children with Wizard-talent are moved to Edinburgh for schooling as Younglings, and once they go through a basic training a Wizard chooses them to become his Apprentice (padawan) to finish their training and attuned the final teachings to their specific talents and way of expressing magic.
The system, of course, would need the cooperation of the Paranet or something similar to catch strong talents.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version