[HPforGrownups] Re: Academic dishonesty

[Magda Grantwich]

No: HPFGUIDX 139465

-- justcarol67 <justcarol67 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> ...Young Severus
> Snape deserved the highest possible marks in Potions because he
> understood both the theory behind potion-making (which Hermione is
> learning but Harry isn't) and how to apply it successfully (which
> Hermione may be on her way to learning but Harry is not). If he
> were
> to continue in this vein for another year and then take his Potions
> NEWT, his ignorance of potion-making and the principles behind it
> would be exposed, along with his less than honest method of
> acquiring
> those marks. He has learned nothing. There is no possible way he
> could
> reproduce those results (unless you count the bezoar) on his own.
> He
> is being rewarded for Severus Snape's knowledge and creativity, not
> his own. To argue that he deserves the same high marks as the
> person
> who invented the improved potions makes no sense at all. It's like
> saying that Lockhart deserves credit for writing his textbooks. The
> only difference is that Harry hasn't modified anyone's memory in
> order to claim their ideas as his own.


And there's another point I'd like to add to Del's and Carol's.

What if you were a member of the Order and you knew that Harry was
key in the ultimate defeat of Voldemort.  Let's assume you neither
like nor dislike Harry one way or the other, and you have no
incentive to cut him any slack.  Would you think something like this:

"This is the kid who is going to defeat the Dark Lord, who's going up
against one of the most powerful wizards of the past century, a
wizard who takes no prisoners and doesn't hesitate to use any and all
powers at his disposal to win.  This kid is taking credit for work
not his own, is not developing his skills, isn't progressing as a
wizard.  It's occlumency all over again.  How on earth - with this
slacker attitude - is this kid going to prevail over Voldemort?"

Nor do I find Hermione's attitude unsympathetic.  She's not jealous
of the unknown Prince, but she's a mite ticked that Harry - after
years of cheerfully accepting her help with a variety of subjects -
has now taken up with a new study aid and feels safe enough to openly
blow her off.  

Magda 


		
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