Common Rooms

[Andrea]

No: HPFGUIDX 44667

--- Steve <bboy_mn at yahoo.com> wrote:
> I seriously doubt that a system like that could exist in the US.
> Possibly in a few exclusive private schools that model themselves
> after European schools. 

Oh really?  It's not quite the same, but look at the insanely intense
rivalries that exist between different universities and even high schools.
 I'm a Texan whose brother went to A&M, father went to Baylor, and many
cousins went to UT.  All three of those schools have very intense
rivalries, just like the ones between the Hogwarts Houses.  There are some
very nasty "pranks" played between students of the various schools, a
football rivalry like you wouldn't believe, and every Aggie will swear
that any T-sip is is worst enemy.  But when A&M had a tragedy a few years
ago with their Bonfire collapse, UT students were some of their strongest
supporters in a time of need.  This is how I see the Houses working.

Granted, this is at two different schools, not divisions between one
school, but when you just have ONE major school in the area, you divide
yourself up for friendly rivalries. (My own college did that, since we
were very small and not terribly atheletically inclined.  We were the
"Odds" and "Evens", according to graduation year, and the rivalry could
get intense!)  

It's important to have a point of pride, which the Houses give their
students.  And I think it's also important to have some sort of friendly
rivalry going in order to bond the House into a cohesive whole.  Do you
think Gryffindor would be so tightly-knit if they didn't have Slytherin to
cheer against?  And since their whole system of punishment is mostly
centered around points being given or taken away (with detentions
seemingly rarer, for the bigger crimes), it's important to have a rivalry
going.  Would a Gryffindor care so much about losing 5 points if that
didn't put Slytherin a little closer to winning the House Cup? :)


Andrea


=====
"Reality is for people who lack imagination."

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