Copyediting Errors - Listed? (was:Voldemort killed personally?)

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 157234

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Jordan Abel" <random832 at ...> wrote:
>
> > Mike:
> > I think this list loses all integrity if we start calling
> > inconvenient but non-contradictory canon Flints.
> 
> Random832:
> Well, Flint himself, ...- there's nothing in canon that 
> explicitly states that no-one EVER gets left back a year.
> 

bboyminn:

I think perhaps what Mike is getting at is that just because we don't
understand something or just because it seems inconsistent in the
story so far, that doesn't mean these things are Flints (the general
term for mistakes in the books). We can't call them mistakes because
it is yet possible that they will be explained. 

As far as being left back a year, didn't Snape say in HBP that Crabbe
and Goyle had to repeat some classes. I suspect to truly be left back
a year, one would have to fail every class. However, if we assume JKR
modeled Hogwarts after traditional British school, student could
offically leave school after OWLs with 'qualification'. Finishing GCSE
, the equivalent of OWLs, is like getting a high school diploma in the
USA. Once you have it, you are free to go out in the world and make
you way.

A-Levels, the equivalent of NEWTs, represent extra classes, similar to
college prep course, that are additional education for students that
intended to go on to college or university. I don't think 6th and 7th
year students are left back, they would simply move on or take a
course over again. (I confess a limited knowledge of British education.)

So, unless Flint totally messed up his OWLs in 5th year, or unless he
was left back a year in one of the lower years, it's unlikely that he
would actually be left back at all. I suppose it's possible to
speculate that a personal tragedy pulled Flint from the school to the
extent that he had to repeat a year. But we have seem other student
who have missed substantial amounts of school and were no left back. 

To some extent the grades/marks, years and classes themselves seem
irrelevant. The goal is to pass your OWLs, you could miss a whole year
 as Hermione nearly did in CoS, and if the teacher thought you could
continue on to your OWLs without problem, you would just move to the
next class year.

I seem to be rambling here, ...not really sure what my point is. I
guess I'm analysing the possible ways in which Flint could be left
back. That doesn't seem to be a common occurance in the books. It
seems more likely that you would have to make up a class or two. So,
while we could speculate some weak explanation for Mr. Flint, I think
more likely he really is a FLINT.

And to make the final point agreeing with what I think Mike was
saying; just because we can't currently explain something in the books
doesn't mean those things aren't true.

For what it's worth.

Steve/bboyminn