prof-student etiquitte + Potions master stuff (was: Re: Master of This School)

[Jospehine]

No: HPFGUIDX 111857

"potioncat" <willsonkmom at m...> wrote:

Aura:
This is another one of those UK private school culture clash 
things:whenever Hermione says "Please sir," to ask a question, I'm 
reminded of "may I have some more?" and abused ophans and whatnot. :) 
To my American ears, it seems like an unnecesarily subserviant thing 
for Hermione to say, so I assume I'm missing some cultural context 
here? 

Potioncat:
I do think it's a cultural thing.  I say that because I grew up in 
the Southern U.S. where "Ma'am and Sir" were used always when 
speaking to an adult, even to parents.  

Josephine now:
This is definitely a cultural difference. I am English and I was at 
secondary school in the UK from 11-13 then moved to the US to attend 
High School in its entirity. I think JKR has depicted English 
schooling very well, and it isn't just based on private schools 
either. In my UK school (non private) we were made to stand up as the 
teacher entered the room and chorus 'Good morning Mr. ****' and he 
would then signal for us to sit down. It is certainly not a bizarre 
thing for Hermione to say 'Please, sir' as she *is* one for following 
rules, etiquette and manners. Sadly respect for teachers is 
decreasing more and more these days, but certainly while I was at 
school, which would have been the same years as our Hogwarts bunch, 
we were very polite and suitably frightened of being 'troublesome' to 
our teachers.

The difference in the US, which we certainly don't see in any HP 
British school moments, is that teachers are generally more relaxed 
and more approachable in the States.  (I'm making a sweeping 
comparison here, not on an individual basis). The only time we see 
Harry break the boundaries between student and teacher is with Lupin, 
and even then he remains a little guarded and polite up until Lupin 
resigns. There is less discipline in the US (which I think is 
sometimes a good thing) and lessons are less strict. The classroom as 
HRH know it is miles away from the way that most American schools 
teach. (I'm not going to get onto my high horse about the things that 
the UK schooling system could learn from the US) What we have to 
think while we are reading about HRH in lessons is that they are 
frightened of being told off, and are aware of the esteem that they 
must show to their elders. In short saying 'please, sir' is the norm, 
and a sign of respect.

Phew! That seemed complicated for such a simple point! I must stop 
this babbling habit...
Thanks!
Jo