What's Wrong With Exclusion? (Re: Slughorn, slytherins etc.)

[montavilla47]

No: HPFGUIDX 177854

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Mike" <mcrudele78 at ...> wrote:

> Mike:
> Because the Flitwick Flyers, the Sprout Farmers, and Minerva's 
> Minnions were so much better clubs to be in. Oh wait, those other 
> HoH's don't have clubs. So Slughorn spends personal time trying to 
> help the advancement of a select few students. 

Montavilla47:
Those other teachers don't have clubs that we *know* about.  But 
then, we don't know much about how the other Houses work, and
we know next to nothing about extra-curricular activities at 
Hogwarts because Harry isn't interested in them.

> Mike:
> And Sluggy's club is a two-way street, because he does bring his 
> present club members to the attention of his former members, or puts 
> in a good word to the right ear. But that's bad because he doesn't 
> include every student?! 
> 
> As Irene asked, what's wrong with that? What's wrong with kick 
> starting the career of a perceived high flyer? Because he didn't 
> think much of Arthur Weasley? It seems Molly didn't think much of 
> Arthur for much of the series!

Montavilla47:
I think you (and Irene) make a good point here.  What is wrong 
with helping talented students find their niches in the Wizarding 
World?  In principle, there shouldn't be anything wrong with it.

In fact, I would think that it is a sign of a good teacher to not
simply present information to a student (or stuff it into his 
stubborn little head), but to help that student find his or her
path.  

So what is wrong with Slughorn's Slug Club?  Should people
*not* associate with others that they have things in common 
with?  Should such clubs be *required* to let in the lesser
Weasleys or be banned altogether?

The problem I have with the Slug Club is  that I see it 
as an obvious model of the kind of social club that
underpins and perpetuates bigotry.  In a certain sense
it is helpful--and one of the better ways to facilitate
social change. 

I do like Slughorn for extending his favoritism to 
people like Lily and Ginny.  They are (or were) both
talented witches who benefited from his networks.

But JKR takes pains to show us the dark side of 
Slughorn's methods.  The students who don't 
impress him are essentially invisible to him.  
Unimpressed with Ron, he can't be bothered
to learn the boy's name.  Discovering that
Belby isn't well-connected enough, disrespects
the boy obviously enough that Harry notices.

He cultivates the talented, but not so much because
he values talent, but because he values influence.
He's not pushing social change, he's simply canny
enough to see that change is constant and takes
advantage of it by providing small favors that seem
large to people who are moving up.

And, frankly, the way he goes for pretty, cheeky 
girls creeps me out.  

Montavilla47