[HPforGrownups] Re: James, a paragon of virtue? Was: Why Do You Like Sirius?

[Shaun Hately]

No: HPFGUIDX 123718

On 1 Feb 2005 at 13:34, nkafkafi wrote:

> Neri adds:
> Perhaps this was mentioned upthread and I missed it, but at least in
> regard to James, we have a very strong independent corroboration that
> he was the brightest student of his year: DD chose him, not Severus,
> to be Head Boy. At least in RL British schools this is an honor based
> mainly on academic excellence (see Shaun Hately's article) and I don't
> know any reason to think Hogwarts is different in this regard.

Ah, not so.

The office of Head Boy and Head Girl have often in real life 
schools required a reasonable level of academic achievement, but 
they actually tend to be based on multiple factors, not single 
ones. They tend to be 'all rounder' types - those who are good at a 
lot of things, though perhaps not the *best* at any one of those 
things.

What the article says is that *with specific regards to Hogwarts* 
there does seem to be some link between academic achievement 
(academics in terms of the Wizarding World) and becoming Head Boy 
or Head Girl, but that is not the same as saying that this is an 
honour based mainly on academic excellence.

To quote from the article:

"The offices seem to be associated with a considerable level of 
magic power and academic achievement - at least relative to the age 
of the pupils. Of the five students identified in the books as 
having held these offices, two - James Potter and Lily Potter nee 
Evans - are described by Rubeus Hagrid as among the best wizards he 
ever knew (Rowling, 1997, p.45); Bill Weasley holds a responsible 
position as a curse breaker at Gringotts (Rowling, 1999, p.12) and 
is successful enough that he can apparently ignore the conventions 
of normal wizarding dress (Rowling, 2000, p.59). Percy Weasley 
moves directly from school into what appears to be a fairly senior 
entry level position at the Ministry of Magic (Rowling, 2000, p.53) 
and, like his eldest brother Bill, does unusually well in his exams 
(Rowling, 1998, p.40). Tom Riddle, of course, went onto become Lord 
Voldemort (Rowling, 1998, p.242).

So it seems that at Hogwarts, the qualities wanted most for these 
offices is a reasonable level of power and academic achievement, 
coupled with the fact that they must be someone the Headmaster is 
willing to entrust with the safety of their fellow students.

Historically, it is probably this last factor - that of trust - 
that is most relevant in the public schools appointments of their 
school captains. These students, whatever their title, are expected 
to be trustworthy enough to act for the benefit of their fellow 
students. Their level of power and responsibility has often been 
far more than many people would expect to be entrusted to a mere 
student (Lambert, 1968, p.154)."

I've seen the idea that it is primarily academics that determines 
who the Head Boy and Head Girl are mentioned a few times over the 
yearson the list, and actually part of the reason I wrote the 
article was because I felt that was actually a misunderstanding. At 
many schools academics are one fairly important consideration in 
the selection of such pupils, and there is some evidence for 
thinking this may be the case at Hogwarts - but there's a 
difference between something being one important factor and 
considering it to be the main factor.

In actual fact, if there is a single main factor, I think it is 
that these syudents are *trusted*.


Yours Without Wax, Dreadnought
Shaun Hately | www.alphalink.com.au/~drednort/thelab.html
(ISTJ)       | drednort at alphalink.com.au | ICQ: 6898200 
"You know the very powerful and the very stupid have one
thing in common. They don't alter their views to fit the 
facts. They alter the facts to fit the views. Which can be 
uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that 
need altering." The Doctor - Doctor Who: The Face of Evil
Where am I: Frankston, Victoria, Australia