Mysterious Journey
Chapter 1244: Anxious Wizards
Professor McGonagall's "super permission" demonstration had successfully stunned everyone.
With a light cough from Professor McGonagall, the whispers that filled the classroom quickly subsided.
Whether students or already graduated parents, without exception, returned to a serious and attentive state.
"Well then, good evening, parents. Today is the first parent-teacher conference for the Hogwarts class of 1991."
Professor McGonagall looked around the room. A magical lesson plan hovered in front of her, turning to a specific page without any wind.
"This time, we hope to introduce and explain the Hogwarts educational reforms and the new regulations for the subsequent unified examinations in the magical world."
"Hogwarts is the cornerstone of education in the British magical world. The results of learning at Hogwarts largely affect and even determine one's future life in magical society."
"Over the past few decades, the Education Department of the International Confederation of Wizards has commissioned the wizard examination authorities of various countries to hold two levels of examinations in the fifth and seventh years respectively – the Ordinary Wizarding Levels and the Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests, issuing achievement certificates recognized throughout the magical world based on the exam results, as the sole certification for students entering society in the future."
"Generally speaking, most students can successfully pass the O.W.L. exams. Higher-level N.E.W.T. certificates are only required for certain specific positions."
"Therefore, overall, the learning and exam pressure at Hogwarts is not too great. Students can graduate smoothly with a little time."
"However…"
Professor McGonagall's tone lengthened slightly, pausing meaningfully, a somewhat alarming fire flashing in her eyes.
"The situation is different now. Whether it is Hogwarts or the magical society… in the foreseeable future, the requirements for knowledge and skills will inevitably enter a new phase."
"Starting with the British magical world, magical societies around the world are gradually sorting out and formulating a set of standardized industry rules. This means more detailed and clear requirements. For example, St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, certain departments of the Ministry of Magic, and other common and important social positions, should begin to transition towards 'professionalization' and 'specialization' in the coming years…"
"As the first fully-piloted subject of the Hogwarts educational reform, the class of 1991, which is now the second-year students at Hogwarts, is the dividing point for the first stage."
Professor McGonagall's voice gradually became serious, her hands gently resting on the floating magic book, looking at the somewhat confused people in the classroom.
"According to a sampling of Hogwarts graduates, the average turnover rate for a position is roughly five to ten years."
"On the other hand, the new magical population in magical society is constantly declining…"
Professor McGonagall glanced at the content on the "magic lesson plan" and said softly, her expression becoming increasingly solemn.
"Even if the proportion of non-magical world admissions is relaxed, the number of students in each Hogwarts class still shows a clear downward trend."
"This also means that in at most five to ten years, there will be a very serious 'job overflow' in the magical world, and competition for positions will become brutal at this time."
"At the end of last year, the Ministry of Magic commissioned the goblins of Gringotts Wizarding Bank to calculate the trend changes, and ultimately came to a conclusion that was not very good—"
"When the students of the class of 1991 graduate, the unemployment rate in the magical world will roughly reach 20-30%, which is still the most optimistic result."
There are not many positions in the magical world. In the face of wizards' long lifespans, retirement time can even be extended to one hundred years.
Not to mention exceptions like Dumbledore.
Even Hagrid, who is now a full professor, is over sixty years old in the non-magical world.
With the arrival of peacetime, the number of wizards dying unexpectedly has decreased significantly, and the renewal of fresh blood in the semi-closed magical world has gradually stagnated.
Perhaps the Ministry of Magic's finances can barely support the bloated government agencies, but the vast majority of magical shops and magical enterprises obviously have no reason to digest the surplus labor force.
This assessment report from Gringotts cut open the terrible future that the Ministry of Magic had been unwilling to face, like a sharp dagger.
Similarly, this is also the core reason why the magical government and the International Confederation of Wizards agreed to the Hogwarts educational pilot program.
"So, Minerva, what exactly are you trying to say—"
Mrs. Longbottom frowned heavily, taking advantage of Professor McGonagall's pause to suddenly ask.
Unlike other students' parents, she and McGonagall were too familiar, and their dormitory beds were next to each other when they were in school.
Augusta Longbottom was not afraid of any "McGonagall authority," looking up at McGonagall standing on the podium, and said a little impatiently.
"The importance of learning doesn't need to be emphasized by you. Every year, there will always be some clumsy wizards who can't find jobs. These are issues for the magical government and schools to consider. What does it have to do with us?"
"In short, when all of you here graduate from Hogwarts, you will face a tough 'battle'."
Professor McGonagall took a light breath, her eyes scanning over the faces of the students and parents present, and said slowly in a heavy tone.
"Either you will be more excellent and more comprehensive wizards, snatching your own positions from saturated jobs; or you will become the 20-30% of unemployed people…"
"Of course, I also know that among us, there are many wealthy magical families who can maintain a normal life for their families even without working—"
Professor McGonagall quickly glanced at Mr. Malfoy sitting near the front in the center of the classroom, her eyebrows twitched, and she continued unhurriedly.
"However, if a wizard cannot find a foothold in the magical world, no matter how wealthy the family is, it will eventually be eaten up. And at that time, it is still impossible to avoid the troublesome and terrible enemy of 'life'. In this case, the path that can be chosen seems very clear… In my opinion, there are only two:"
"Using clumsy magic to attack other innocent people, becoming dark wizards to plunder and rob—I believe the Aurors will be very happy to correct this behavior."
"Or, putting down your wands, living in the non-magical world like a Muggle…"
Professor McGonagall frowned slightly, looking at the subsequent content displayed on the "magic lesson plan" with a complicated expression.
Speaking of which, she vaguely heard these seemingly sophistical but more hurtful words a few years ago, and now they are obviously more complete than they were then.
After more than two years, Aileen Prince had obviously perfected the theory of that year, and deduced some more cruel and hurtful conclusions on this basis.
"It's just that wizards who lack basic skills, resumes, and don't understand knowledge of the non-magical world may not have a smooth life in the non-magical world."
"Perhaps magic can solve some small problems, but don't forget, the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy will always be watching you."
Accompanying Professor McGonagall's words, a sense of unease quickly spread in the Transfiguration classroom.
After all, these principles are not complicated, and all parents can reach similar conclusions after brief consideration.
If you don't study hard, you will either "lose" your wizarding identity in the future, or become a third-rate criminal and be arrested and imprisoned…
There are still five full years before graduation, and not many people can guarantee 100% that their children will not become the "twenty percent" Professor McGonagall mentioned.
"Of course, parents and students, don't be discouraged. Although the situation is relatively serious, the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts are also actively responding."
Professor McGonagall paused for a few seconds, the expression on her face softened slightly, and she tapped the floating magic book with the wand in her hand.
"Hogwarts is undergoing a comprehensive teaching reform, striving to maximize the comprehensive quality of students."
"The young wizards cultivated under the new curriculum standard will be at least two or three times more competitive in terms of personal competitiveness than in the past."
"I know that in society, and even among some parents, there are some objections to the teaching reform and some new courses promoted by Hogwarts. For example, mathematics, grammar, and other brand-new subjects that may be added later, believing that these are things that Muggles would learn—but I hope that after this parent meeting, everyone can look at the new curriculum standards more comprehensively."
"Currently, in terms of the school system, Hogwarts still opens free electives in the third grade. I hope parents can provide their children with help and suggestions during this critical period."
The wand in Professor McGonagall's hand shook lightly on the page, and a translucent magic shadow was silently projected on the teaching screen behind her.
"Now, let me briefly explain the significance of the new courses and teaching reforms at Hogwarts, and their correlation…"
…………
At the same time, a similar scene was being staged in various classrooms at Hogwarts.
After more than two years of preparation, Aileen and Dumbledore finally found the most suitable opportunity to demonstrate.
Compared to the theoretical discussions at the beginning of the "new curriculum standards" reform, there are now far too many cases and magical achievements that can be provided.
And more importantly, with Dumbledore's "temporary running away," Hogwarts has completely fallen into Aileen's clutches.
In Aileen's opinion, the most effective means of prompting parents and the Ministry of Magic to compromise is definitely not outdated coercion or lure…
"Selling… anxiety?"
Nearly Headless Nick hovered outside the classroom window of the first-year students, recalling the term explained by "Miss Fool."
He looked at the people inside the classroom with serious expressions, as if they were about to have a knife held to their necks, and sighed worriedly.
That Dumbledore, perhaps, really released the most terrifying ultimate monster.
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Yay!
Chapter 1244 Anxious Wizards