[HPforGrownups] Re: Academic dishonesty.

[Bev & Gary]

No: HPFGUIDX 139455

Eggplant says:

Harry didn't steal the
book, it was given to him by the teacher and if there was more in that
book than the teacher knew then so be it.  I see no moral obligation
for Harry to inform the world that there was graphite in it if he
didn't want to, and he didn't want to. He did offer to share the
instructions with Ron and Hermione but Ron couldn't and Hermione
wouldn't. 

Beverly replies:

And...wouldn't it be up to Slughorn to ask what Harry did to make it such a splendid potion?  I would think in a chemistry class (which I think is what the potions class correlates to)the teacher has a *responsibility* to ask such an exceptional student, "How did you do that?  Please, share with the class."  Instead Slughorn just keeps saying the same thing, that Harry is taking after his mother.

In fact, he says it just about every single time we see Harry in potions class and then some.  Slughorn goes on and on about how Lily was so adept/instinctive at potions and he even believes Snape wouldn't have been able to do as well:

(Page 319 US Hardcover Edition, at Slughorn's Christmas Party where he's talking to Trelawney)

 "But I don't think I've ever known such a natural at Potions!" said Slughorn, regarding Harry with a fond, if bloodshot, eye.  "Instinctive, you know--like his mother!  I've only ever taught a few with this kind of ability, I can tell you that, Sybill--why even Severus--"

And then to Snape he says:

"You should have seen what he gave me, first lesson, Draught of Living Death--never had a student produce finer on a first attempt, I don't think even you, Severus--"

So Slughorn just thinks Harry's potion ability is instinct passed on by his mother.  Therefore, I would think that a teacher would want to take such a student aside and ask what he/she did *exactly* to warrant such a remarkable potion.  That way the whole class, including the teacher, could understand what was done differently (if anything) and have better knowledge about it.

I can see other people's reasoning that Harry was being dishonest in keeping the book and not notifying Slughorn about it, but I also think Slughorn bears the greater responsibilty as the teacher and adult to recognize a unique situation and inquire about it.  Obviously he should have focused more on teaching and less on networking.
 
Bev.  

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