House points and Dumbledore

[Steve <bboy_mn@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 51071

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Maria Kirilenko
<maria_kirilenko at y...> wrote:
> 
> bboy_mn:
> 
> Perspective-
>
> ...edited...
> 
> Sorry, but you will never convince me that evil Dumbledore snatch an
> undeserved victory from the hands of the poor hard working deserving
> Slytherins and gave it to Gryffindor. They deserves three times the
> point that he awarded them, but he chose to be very modest about it.
> 
> 
> Me: (Maria)
> 
> Your analysis is very intimidating. <g>
> 
> But all this makes me wonder what exactly House points are awarded
> for. We know they're taken away for breaking rules (or just 
> bothering Snape <g>). 
> 
> When I first started reading PS, I assumed that the whole thing 
> was academic. Instead of grades, they receive House points.
> 
> But I am not sure it's wise to compare academic success to the 
> displays of courage, bravery, etc (you list 'em in full). Tom 
> Riddle got a trophy (or whatever that was, my memory has just 
> stopped functioning) for exposing the Heir of Slytherin, so why 
> not do the same for HHR&N? But instead, Dumbledore just jumbles 
> it all together with rewards for good behavior and good grades.
> 
> This is what I do not like in Dumbledore's actions at the end of PS. 
> 
> He *ignores* all the hard work Slytherin (or whatever House) did 
> throughout the whole year.
> -end this part-

bboy_mn responses:

Ok, enough of this 'hard working Slytherins' baloney (cow cookies,
meadow muffins, road apples). Snape probably showers points on the
Slytherin like... er... water. Not to mention that their hard work
consists of lying, cheating, and doing anything they can accept
actually earning it, to achieve their ends. They are afteral Slytherins.

Here is what McGonagall said about points: (my emphasis)

"... your TRIUMPHS will earn your House points, while any
rule-breaking will lose House points."

Teachers seem to be able to add or subtract points based on their own
criteria. Snape takes them away from people he doesn't like in a very
arbitrary manner, and hands them out likewise.

Points are not academic, although academinc achievement is ONE of the
things they can be handed out for, and they do get grades for their
classroom performance. Pass or fail is not based on House points.

The trophy/plaque that Riddle was awarded, and the ones that Harry and
Ron later received, were for SPECIAL SERVICES TO THE SCHOOL (sorry for
shouting but Yahoo gives us a limited means of formating). Ridding the
school of an evil monster is service to the school. Saving the stone
was not, and therefore, the plaque could not be awarded.

Again, I ask, what did Slytherin achieve that year? They sucked up to
Snape. Bullied and cheated there way around the Quidditch pitch.
Earned a few general routine points that even Gryffindor earned. Until
they got caught getting rid of baby dragon Norbert, Gryffindor was way
ahead in House points. Slytherin only won, not by achievement, but by
default. 

So if Triumphs win you point, then the Good-Trio really got short
changed, because three 11 year olds defeating the best of what the
teachers could offer for defenses, selflessly risking their lives,
save the most precious artifact in the entire wizarding world, and
once again, defeating Voldemort was eons ahead of anything Slytherin
accomplished.

-bboy_mn-end this part-

> Maria continues:
> 
> I stick with what I've said before - it's demoralizing for the 
> students and the staff, who abuse their rights of awarding and 
> subtracting points anyway.
> 
> Maria

bboy_mn finishes:
It's always demoralizing when you lose. Maybe we should take the
politically correct but totally irrational approach and make everybody
winners, so that no one will have to be demoralized by losing. Get
over it; Slytherin lost, they lost because their achievements were so
pale and meaningless compared to the outstanding accomplishments of
intellect, skill, courage, and magic by Harry, Ron, and Hermione as to
not even rate mentioning. Slytherin should have lost 50 points for
being so hopelessly mediocre and mundane in comparison to Harry, Ron,
and Hermione.

I close by agreeing with you that it is demoralizing when staff abuse
the awarding and subtracting of point, but that would be Snape, not
Dumbledore.

Sorry, but that's still my story and I'm still sticking to it.

..and nothing personal.

bboy_mn