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

[Jane Starr]

No: HPFGUIDX 87193


--- Shaun Hately <drednort at alphalink.com.au> wrote:
> In loco parentis is an *incredibly* powerful Common
> Law principle - 
> and was even more so in the past. A teacher under
> British Common 
> Law did have virtually the full powers of a parent
> over their 
> students.

As a parent, I have on occasion confiscated a thing or
privilege from to one of my kids that was unrelated to
the reason I was punishing them simply because it was
the best way to reinforce the seriousness of the
transgression. Sometimes you have to take away the
thing they love most, because nothing else will have
the desired impact.

The difference between what Umbridge did and what most
parents would do is that most parents dislike handing
out punishments and only do it because they have to.
If you look at how McGonagall hands out punishments,
it is very much in the parental model. She cares about
her students and although she dislikes handing out
punishments she does it firmly and fairly. Umbridge
couldn't care less about any of those kids (except
insofar as they have influential parents, and the
minute the parent falls from grace the kid will too)
and she positively enjoys handing out punishments, the
harsher the better. 



=====
JES
Canada

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