Points System abuse by teachers (Snape)

[Steve Vander Ark]

No: HPFGUIDX 27430

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Eric Oppen" <oppen at c...> wrote:
> You know, I kind of think that one big weakness of the "points for 
houses"
> system that Hogwarts uses is that it lays itself open to abuse by 
teachers,
> and that Snape in particular is guilty of this sort of abuse.  

This is very true. The system is so biased that it's hard to believe 
that someone like Dumbledore would allow it. He represents fairness 
and impartiality, after all, with everyone of any race etc. getting a 
chance. But maybe that's why he doesn't hesitate to step in at the 
last minute and award points in a fashion which is clearly planned to 
undermine the Slytherin win as dramatically as possible. Not only 
that, think about the Triwizard Tournament. I could go on and on 
about the major plot holes and inconsistencies of this entire mess, 
but one particularly galling problem is that not one of the champions 
competes fairly. They all cheat and get outside help and advance 
knowledge and this is expected! "Cheating has always been a 
traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament," we are told. I think 
we have to adjust our understanding of the way the Wizarding World 
works, not only in terms of technology and physics but also in terms 
of morality and ethics.

related resources:
house points
http://www.i2k.com/~svderark/lexicon/points_ss.html

the Triwizard Tournament
http://www.i2k.com/~svderark/lexicon/triwizard.html

Steve Vander Ark
The Harry Potter Lexicon
which features essays on all this stuff and more :)
http://www.i2k.com/~svderark/lexicon