Sadism or not ? McGonagall and her punishments

[Sheryll Townsend]

No: HPFGUIDX 186750

> A_svirn:
> <SNIP>
> "HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
> 
> UNIFORM
> 
> First-year students will require:
> 
> 1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
> 2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
> 3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
> 4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
> 
> Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags"
> 
> As you can see, there is nothing there about hairstyles. A good thing too, or
> Harry would have been forever in trouble for his hereditary messy hair <SNIP>
> 
> 
> Alla:
> 
> OOOO, this is what I call stellar canon evidence. And in fact I would say that if Hogwarts regulates their students' hair in a any way, shape or form, to me it would make a perfect sense to mention it here for the exact reason you described. I would think that it would have a great comic effect for Harry to worry about how he will deal with his hair while in school, to show him being extra nervous or something. However she mentions nothing of the sort.
> So yeah, this is a forbidden " me too" part of the post.
>

Sheryll:

I don't necessarily see this as evidence that there are no regulations as to hair or hair accessories. All this is is a rudimentary shopping list. It is by no means an inclusive list of what students can bring to school with them. Simply because something isn't mentioned, doesn't mean a reasoned conclusion can't be made. After all, there's no mention of the students showering, but I'd lay odds they don't go dirty all year. 

There are also lots of rules that don't get mentioned in the initial letters to students. Some of them are given by Dumbledore at the Opening Feast. I would imagine that the house prefects are charged with the responsibility of making sure that general school rules are passed on to new arrivals each year. I'm sure someone with experience in that area will correct me if I'm wrong. It's not something I have personal experience with. :)

I think what Shaun is doing is making reasonable assumptions based on both his own knowledge and experience, as well as a reasonable, IMO, assumption of what the author would consider the norm in that type of school setting. 

Sheryll