Hogwarts Overhaul

Overhauling the way Hogwarts is done on PA is a given thing - a necessity - as it always seems to die after the initial September thrills wear off and real life gets in the way.

We're going to change the way classes are done but I can't help but wonder - is it the actual subjects?

Core classes
Astronomy
Charms
Dark Arts (1997-1998 school year only)
Defence Against the Dark Arts
Flying (first years only)
Herbology
History of Magic
Potions
Transfiguration

Electives (third years and up)
Study of Ancient Runes
Arithmancy
Muggle Studies (Core class in the 1997–1998 school year)
Care of Magical Creatures
Divination
Apparition (Sixth year, those of age only)
Alchemy (Sixth and seventh years, only if sufficient demand)

The underlined ones are the ones we already do but would you like a mix-up? That's what I'm asking. I am hesitant to add more but would you like to cycle through the lessons possibly? Change periodically what's being taught?

What do you think?

I think it may be time to take a chance and abandon some of the core subjects. Potions seems to have limited success, but no one ever gets around to doing the others really. 

I think we should definitely have a brief Flying class or two. Especially since first years are sparse, it might get them to interact and encourage younger students.

Herbology could be fun too. I think Divination could too, especially if we get a teacher who can really predict. That could help with personal plotting.

Apparation could be fun too! Maybe sixteen year olds and seventeen year olds who haven't passed could do it.

Some people have expressed interest in Herbology and Divination too. Maybe with the classes being changed up others will be more likely to join the classes.

I know some of my friends would join a Divination class thread because they don't know how Divination works and they'll want to learn. Same with Herbology.

I think the core classes are just getting a little bit boring? I don't know, but mixing it up might just... spark that interest in classes.

Flying and Apparation would more than likely be events than actually classes.

So, we could take out Potions for a while and replace it with either Divination or Herbology. I'm inclined to get rid of CoMC too, personally.

I think Potions is the most successful actually. Transfig and CoMC never really seem to take off though.

While I haven't been part of classes on this site, I feel it's more about the lessons than the class, usually. Things you can picture your character doing make more sense and are easier to participate in.

I've heard many people say that they are interested in Herbology.

The problem with things like Potions and transfiguration is that often the handlers of the Professors don't actually look things up on, say Pottermore or HP-Lexicon, and then if the character's handlers do then they get frustrated and don't want to participate.

I think Potions is the simplest to look up, but when you get into things like Charms and DADA the professors run out of spells and have to go into theory, which is too complex usually.

That's fair. I remember getting frustrated with Charms. DADA was alright if they did things like Lupin's classes. But even doing that for the entire year was extensive.

I know a site that once had students pick a set of lessons each month based on which ones or professors they liked. Like they would sign up for a set on the first week of the month. Idk if that would work on here, though.

I think the one that never really takes off is actually Charms. CoMC gets a little activity like the others, but it's normally the quickest to die off because all people do are introduce themselves to one another and then nothing more really happens.

With Charms, you get a little more done. The professor gives you an assignment but after that students stop responding for a while because they don't seem to care much. Or they just don't have the motivation for the class.

CoMC is hard, because it's hard to come up with assignments. Charms did okay with Milo subbing, and before that (can't remember the teacher) but yeah, it's just a bunch of spells the kids have to practice. To keep it active, I had to stress the socializing over the spells and do a bunch of incentive programs and whatnot. It took SO MUCH TIME to work on it.