ACADEMICS

[Dray]

ACADEMICS:

A child who grows up in Safe-Haven is expected to learn basic reading and writing skills prior to entering the school system. To facilitate this, new parents are given a learning kit package upon a child's birth and orphanages have a system set in place.

At age 4 a child is automatically enrolled in the Safe-Haven school system by the government census bureau. (A child attends his or her first school year during the year in which the child turns 5.)

A month prior to the school year, every eligible incoming new student is interviewed by the school committee which consists of;

the Principal,
* the Academic Dean,
* the Dean of Students,
* Lord of the Campus Guard,
* a representative of the Truancy Office,
* a representative of the Clergy,
* the Liberal Arts Director,
* a representative of the Department of Defense

[/color]

Although parents are in attendance, it can be quite an intimidating experience for one so young, but the school considers it a necessary first step for a bright young and impressionable mind.

In this interview, an initial assessment of the child's basic skills and interests is established. And every year after that, until the student reaches the age of 9, the Academic Dean interviews the child to maintain a record of that child's particular interests. This information is then forwarded to the child's House Leaders (quasi fraternities and sororities – explained below) who use it to nurture a child's growth. The government learned long ago that a happy student is one who is interested in his or her activities, and is therefore a cooperative one.

Children aren't "sorted" into their houses though until the age of 9. Until then, all children are given the same education that covers the basics of the entire academic program. A final interview is given to the student, again with the full staff listed above, to ascertain a final evaluation on that's students primary skill-set and interests.

At the sorting ceremony, students are awarded to their houses. In these houses, until the age of 15, these students still receive a broad academic scope of knowledge, but they also now receive specific training in the field of expertise of that selected House. Not only does each student get more class time devoted to their subject, but all other coursework in the other Academic areas is segregated within each classroom, each assignment relating to the students of each House.

This way the populace of the school is still one community, despite the segregation of the different subjects.

From age 15 to 18, the student is considered to have adequate skills in all other subjects and therefore attains an agenda to focus only on the selected field of study. At age 17, many become assistant teachers for their subject to the youngest students.

The houses are as follows:

The Alchemists (Symbol – bubbling Pot) - Chemistry
* The Clergy (Symbol – Sword & Shield resting on a Knapsack) – Doctrine
* The Builders (Symbol – Hammer & Anvil) - Engineering
* The Providers (Symbol – Crate & Barrel) – Culinary Arts
* The Artificers (Symbol – Ballista) – Physics & Science
* The Actors (Symbol – Two Theater Masks) – Liberal Arts & Theater

* The Scribes (Symbol - A quill) - Law, Accounting and Administration
* The Harvesters (Symbol – Pitchfork over Wheat) – Agricultural Science
* The Protectors (Symbol – Sword over Standing Shield) – Department of Defense[/list][/color]

(Perhaps more to come later as I think of them or they are suggested to me)

Upon reaching age 18, a student graduates in their final year in the school system. Each student, regardless of academic focus, is placed within the military for the next six years. And although they serve in a military department that makes use of their individual talents, each student is called upon to fight in the war.

[Dray]

Updated 02.15.08...

[Wildfire]

Dray,

Is there any sort of rivalry (friendly or otherwise) between any of the houses? Is there a "prejudice" towards any of the houses (I'm sort of thinking about High School cliques...having gone to MHS I'm *sure* you know about those...)

Is there any sort of "carnival" showcasing each houses talents?

[Dray]

Yes....yes and erm.....yes.

[Wildfire]

Explaination of the "yes" answers forthcoming?

Oh, and since Shannon is an artist would she be part of the Actors Academy (Liberal Arts & Theatre)?

[Dray]

Shannon would definitely be in The Actors.

And yes, more defined answers are forthcoming, I just have to prioritize what I work on first. I have a suspicion that I will be posting more and more content on this Kingdom all spring and summer this year.

But in order to get the toons "in the game", some things, as you are well aware, have to be explained before others.

So to help you out in this regard, just know that the houses have competitions, both academic and actual physical competitions. Everything from science fairs, to judged art exhibits, to "Survival (the TV series) obstacle course competitions.

And the most popular is military competitions that are held in the Fall and Spring seasons. The only non-competing house is the Protectors, since they would have the clear advantage. The Protectors House instead is divided into leadership teams that train the teams made up of members from every other house. These teams, which are permanent for the year, compete in the Our-Commons Arena for glory, prestige and fabulous game-show prizes.

More later....

[Dray]

New House Added 03.19.08