[HPforGrownups] HP and the democratic equilibrium(Re: Umbridge, brooms and DEs)

[Kathryn Cawte]

No: HPFGUIDX 87149


Laura
> You know, I resent the implication that I didn't read your entire post.
>   ^_~  Actually, I suppose I was thrown off by the violin analogy
> (which, as I discussed in my last post, isn't really the same situation
> anyway) in which having the violin definitely wasn't a privilege
> conferred by the school.
>
K

Sorry - I should have said 'you missed my point' rather than implying you
didn't read it.

Actually being allowed to bring one's own instrument *might* be a
privilege - I could quite understand a school not wanting to take
responsibility for having such a valuable piece of property at school where
anything might happen to it and they'd get the blame ... hey that *does* fit
the broom idea, I only realised that it's quite apt as I was typing.

Laura
> Although, *is* setting a punishment that is far too severe for the
> crime really within the rights of the school (I'm talking about banning
> Harry "forever", not just the confiscation of his broom)?  I suppose
> this is a hard question to answer, esp. as schools in the US (where I'm
> from) and the UK differ so greatly, and Hogwarts may not even follow
> the form of a UK school down to the legal details anyway.
>

K

Well that's an awkward question - I mean it was obviously *unfair* for her
to do what she did, but so are some of Snape's punishments (and draco would
no doubt have thought being punished by Minerva in PS was unfair - I'd
disagree there but *shrugs* I'm sure if anyone wanted to they could put up a
good argument for his case). And no she didn't imo have the right, or the
ability for that matter, to ban Harry forever since after he leaves school
the school has no authority over him and I can't see the Ministry for Sports
(or whatever it is - I don't have the Quidditch book around to check)
refusing to let him play for a team just because one of his teachers wanted
to punish him - even if the teacher *was* working for Fudge. Infact had she
tried I think they'd have just assumed she was nuts. Again she probably had
the right to stop him ever playing at school - but I doubt any of the other
teachers will enforce that (well Snape might try because he does seem to
have an ongoing competition with Minerva over the quidditch results). Do
teachers have the right to be unfair?



K