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Introduction

Young people, teenagers in particular have over recent years shown a great deal of interest in witchcraft, often following TV series or publication of books. Most realize that there is a great difference between fiction and fact, but have wanted to find out more, understand what it is all about and maybe join something.

Many adult groups, still being unsure of the new tolerant view on beliefs, and knowing how easy another witch hunt could be stirred up, tend to steer clear of anyone under 18 years of age.

Some people within the adult craft community have argued at length that it is unacceptable that a child can be taught Christianity, and go to a Christian group, but cannot get the same facilities for another belief. It was out of this and the problem of getting some sites with a teen audience to link to witchcraft sites that gave rise to the development of the academy.

So what is the objective of the academy, or witchcraft school. 

We see it as an opportunity to create a web site that allows all paths, not just Wicca or just traditional to be explained, in a way that everyone is happy for young people to see it.  We can explain things in a fun and friendly way, without going into the academic discussions that some may want to explore later and are on the school-of-witchcraft site (University). So we have the Academy site, we are building here aimed as a beginner or teen site and the larger university, School-of-witchcraft site, they can move onto later if they wish.

Although it is always dangerous to generalize. The teen audience is slightly different, to those with a  longer term interest, in a number of ways, often they have been attracted following some fictional representation of the craft, often they are looking for a fun form, and sometimes to make sense out of the meaning of life. Adults on the other hand are less likely to have come via a fictional form and more likely to have been on a spiritual quest, seeking enlightenment, or to have experienced some major setback or problem within their life that has caused them to reappraise the need for a spiritual content within their life.

This difference in finding the craft, tends to show up as a deeper search for detail and theology by the adult and for lighter, more fun, approach by teens. Often teens are attracted to Wicca as it offers a formulaic, easy to understand, package, with instant spells and little need to acquire wisdom. In many cases due to the amount of material and commercial activities within Wicca, they may think that this is witchcraft or the major part of it, rather than one path of many.

We have to strive not to mislead, to offer as many views as we can, and as many paths as we can. 

It is also important that the site we produce is relevant to teens, interesting to them and that we involve as many as we are able in its production and management. 

Who is this site to be ideal for

Its aimed very much at a teen audience, so will be primarily developed to suit their interests and needs, It may also be useful for others as a starter site to gain an understanding of the craft, but this is very much a secondary role and should not dilute the suitability for the teen audience.

We also want to make sure that this site provides knowledge that parents and educators are happy for children to be shown. We all know that what a girl does and what she accepts later  is suitable for her daughter to be involved in is often quite different. We have to choose to present what the mother would be happy for her daughter to be involved in.

So who are a teen audience. 

While we may think of teenagers as young adults between 13 and 19, we know that teen areas on discussion groups attract mot people between 14  and 18, but some as young as 11 and some as old as 25. In our case we are looking at targeting the site specifically at the 14-18 group, but excluding all sexual items, including grand rites that are sexual, Wicca and other traditions rituals that have asexual content, and all rituals and detail including skyclad/nude and similar rites. 

We are therefore presenting the parts of the craft that are suitable for young people to become involved in, and that they can use in establishing their own covens. 

Some may argue that by not providing all knowledge , we have weakened the scope of the skills available, however the full craft knowledge cannot be taught on any site, partly because much is secret but also because the range of craft skills is so great that no person would want to attempt to learn them all. Therefore to choose a subset that is able to be used by this group, will empower them far more than it would if we were to tell them a large number of sections and then say, but this is not something you can take part in at this time. Later they can find out about these areas if they wish, and most will out of curiosity if not for use.

We have therefore to ask ourselves, not only if the teen person would find a topic of interest but would her mother find it a suitable subject for her to discuss with others. This does not mean we have to produce a site that a hell breathing Christian fundamentalist would appreciate, but that we don't encourage activities involving skyclad rituals or sexual practices or anything that could in any way be considered dangerous.

This site - www.witchcraft-school.org  

School site www.witchcraft-school.com also on second server as www.witchcraftschool.com

email us at 'tutors @ witchcraft-school.org ' no spaces before or after the @