Schooled in the ways of witches and wizards

Toronto Sun ^ | 2002-05-22 | Erik Floren

[Lorenb420]

LIVERPOOL -- Fans of the Harry Potter stories and The Lord Of The Rings may enjoy attending a new School for Wizards and Witches.

In the popular Harry Potter stories, a young orphan suffers while living with his vile uncle and aunt until he discovers that he is a legend to the witches and wizards of the world. Soon he's off to boarding school, where he studies the magical arts.

The new school -- which isn't in any way connected to either the J.K. Rowling series or the Warner Bros. movie -- is housed in Victorian premises at 3 Temple Court, just off Mathew St., home of the Cavern Club where the young Beatles played.

The school is open on Sundays throughout the year.

A half-day visit includes the magic museum, a display of witches' broomsticks, tea-leaf and crystal-ball reading classes, the choosing ceremony -- when youngsters decide whether to train as a good or bad wizard or witch -- basic broomstick handling and maintenance, learning spells and oaths, an introduction to magic skills and games linked to witches and wizards.

A visit lasts over three hours and costs about $18 for children, about $15 for adults and roughly $50 for family tickets.

Advance booking is advised. For mor information, call Mersey Tourism at 0-151-708-8574.

[SodiumWarthog]

But won't they be disappointed when they chant their spells and waive their hands and nothing happens?

NaW.
(And still some zealot will think Harry Potter is a threat to their religion...)

[ArmoredCav]

Something does happen: it is a weight loss spell (the Brits are losing pounds on every visit... errr euros?)

[Aquinasfan]

But won't they be disappointed when they chant their spells and waive their hands and nothing happens?

NaW.

(And still some zealot will think Harry Potter is a threat to their religion...)

And what if their ouija board "speaks" back to them? You might want to listen to an interview with the Exorcist for the archdiocese of NY (Nov. 12 broadcast) here. We really shouldn't encourage children to dabble in the occult.

Oh, BTW, let me be the first to say "I told you so" regarding Potter's power to enkindle in children an interest in the occult. This has only just begun.

[AppyPappy]

let me be the first to say "I told you so" regarding Potter's power to enkindle in children an interest in the occult.

The amount of disconnect here will be amazing. Instead of "No it won't", it will be "OK it did, So what?".

[The Shootist]

The only notable similarity between "Harry Potter" and LOTR is that they were both written by British Subjects.

[ASA Vet]

But won't they be disappointed when they chant their spells and
waive their hands and nothing happens?

No more than any other supernaturalist would be.
Many supernaturalist belief systems have had zero results for
a few thousands of years but still retain their faithful.

[mhking]

A visit lasts over three hours and costs about $18 for children, about $15 for adults and roughly $50 for family tickets.

Well, it's cheaper than Disney (but not by much)!

[SodiumWarthog]

Maybe if they believed harder or chanted differently or used another color shiny stones then it might work.

NaW.
(I wonder if they try to appease the engine gods when their car won't start?...)

[Dr. Eckleburg]

We really shouldn't encourage children to dabble in the occult.

Thanks for the ping. I missed it yesterday.

A society encourages its children towards the future it wants for them. All these little witches and warlocks will be that much more familiar with the black arts when someone approaches them on the school yard or behind the mall.

And parents will be shocked by what their kids have learned when they weren't paying attention.

But Madame Blavatsky would be proud of them.

Keep up the good fight, Aquinasfan.

[Aquinasfan]

The amount of disconnect here will be amazing. Instead of "No it won't", it will be "OK it did, So what?".

The abscence of the usual Potter advocates here speaks volumes already. Let the grand disconnect begin.

[Cogadh na Sith]

They turned me into a newt!

[RightWhale]

The francs and deutschmarks are gone, but the pound is still going.

[Billthedrill]

(I wonder if they try to appease the engine gods when their car won't start?...)

No, but I have noticed my network running better after I've sacrificed a few goats to the main servers...

[Durus]

Did you get better?