DEBATE TIME! ****OFFICIALLY CLOSED****

[debate-geeks.livejournal.com]

THE DEBATE IS OFFICIALLY CLOSED.

THANK YOU!

Alright, lads n' lassies, it's time for the June Debate! Please, please make sure that you are familiar with :

The Rules

1. This is all in fun. Feel free to take it seriously, but keep yourself grounded.


2. In the heat of debate, please refrain from using any sort of personal attacks. This should be obvious, and this will get you docked points.


3. Please do not leave the topic, or leave your assigned side. This is also a good way to lose points as well!


4. What happens in debate stays in debate. I don't want to see any of you getting catty with each other for whatever sort of battles go on in the debate post. When we leave the debate, we're all friends again!


5. Only qualified comments earn you points. A qualified comment means:




• A point is made.


• The comment is more than three sentences long.


• The comment stays on topic and is correct according to the side you are debating.


• The comment is signed. And by that, I do have to request that if you accidently forget to sign it, that you delete the comment and repost with your name and house in it. Otherwise, should the thread collapse, I might not catch that you were signing in another comment.




6. Please do not plan any sort of strategies in your common rooms. I want this to be your own genius, not what a prefect tells you to say. ;) Besides, there's more pride in coming up with something intelligent on your own, right? However, it is okay to track your house's progress or root your team on there. I won't be in the common rooms to make sure you guys follow this rule, so use the honor code.


7. If you make a comment that is just so out there that it has to be deleted, expect your house to suffer from the loss of a very large amount of points. So just don't do it, kay? :)

before you start posting! The last few debates, we've had a ton of comments, but not all of them got points. Make sure that you get it done right the first time. Especially the one about deleting and reposting a comment if you forget to sign it. Are we ready? Are we?!

Alright then. Let's go!

Should Hogwarts stop sorting students into different houses in order to obtain unity?

House pride runs deep in the hearts and souls of the students of Hogwarts. The house you are sorted into means the world to you- it is who you are, who you've been, and even who you will become. It reads into your character and your very being, pushing you into a world with people simular to you. Many people see it's benefits: one would easily find friends they could level with, and people with interests like their own. But, on the other side of the coin lies a world where people are looked down upon, students form a deeply embedded hatred for one another, and assumptions are made.. all because of the house they are placed into.

The decision rests in your hands. Should Hogwarts stop sorting students into different houses to obtain unity amongst the students, or should they see the many benefits of grouping students together by like personalities and interests?


For Houses: Slytherin and Ravenclaw
Against Houses: Gryffindor and Hufflepuff

Comments

Against Houses

[tangerinesidhe.livejournal.com]

By quartering the students into houses, the sorting hat creates division within the student body. The separation makes it so that students are only surrounded by others similar to themselves. This creates an overall weakness in the student body. If the students were mixed instead of segregated they would have the chance to learn from each other and perhaps develop the traits that are less dominant. Division leads to a sense of rivalry. Hogwarts, especially with the coming war, needs unity not rivalry--the best way for the students to survive is through cooperation. The abolishment of the house system would lead to a greater sense of unity among the students.

Destiny//Gryffindor

Re: Against Houses

[beatific.livejournal.com]

In addition to the sense of rivalry between Houses, the separation of Hogwarts students into groups also fosters many different stereotypes, since the actual Sorting is so based on personality and characteristics. The traditional rivalries between houses may prematurely stop students from mingling with each other, and may even influence them so far as to create enemies with people they barely even know--solely based on their predispositions of the house they have been sorted in.

If this sorting process were to be removed, those of different personalities would feel more free to intermingle, especially between the more opposing houses. This removal would also take away the social boundaries separating the students and allow for a better sense of unity in Hogwarts as a result. As tangerinesidhe stated, with a war just on the horizon, unity is crucial. The stereotypes involving which side of the war a certain house may be on may indeed influence the more impressionable, and to do so would be limiting their own capacities of behavior and their own belief systems.

Because of this, we must revoke the Sorting system, traditional as it is, because it only serves to segregate students in the eyes of their peers, and causes unneccesary and potentially dangerous rivalries.

(Tracey/Gryffindor)

Re: Against Houses

[crooked.livejournal.com]

Although making it a bit late, this comment is simply in support of everything that Destiny (tangerinesidhe) said above. :)

She found a better way to state what I have been trying to say for hours. The sorting process only sets the stage for division and does not at all foster unity and tolerance. It also promotes stereotyping and can easily lead to prejudices.

cj//Hufflepuff

Re: Against Houses

[erinypies.livejournal.com]

I solemnly agree with Destiny 100%. Instead of students having friends from what the sorting hat judged them by, they can make new friends, that may have different characteristics, but still have something in common. Students will be able to learn from one another. They will have an opportunity to interact with students that they wouldn't normally get to interact with.


erin*gryffindor

Re: Against Houses

[this-here-girl.livejournal.com]

But, this argument is based on the misconception that house member truly are similar. Look at Hermine, Lavender and Parvati. These girls actually share a room together and yet they are nothing alike. If anything, the sorting introduces you to people who share a very generic similarity to you. Issues that would block someone from forming friendships with people outside of their houses can be taken care of by sponsoring intra-house activities such as club participation and in class projects.

Further more, even without the houses, there would always be the formation of cliques in one form or another. Children - no matter how hard schools try to make everything the same - will always find something about a person that is different if they want to.

Patrice; Slytherin.

[tricknik.livejournal.com]

No, Hogwarts should not stop sorting students into different houses in order to obtain unity. Abandoning the sorting will only lead to further segregation.

Think about how in grade school children choose one another for sports teams. Inevitably someone always gets left out or is the dreaded "last one chosen." Despite the fact he/she makes it onto a team, he/she knows he wasn't wanted and ends up feeling dejected anyhow.

The houses avoid dejection by giving all students the chance to be a part of a group. They may not all get along with one another and may suffer within that group at times, but at least housemates will stick up for one another by default, leaving everyone with a fraternity like feeling.

In addition, coming into a brand new school, far away from home, not knowing anyone (maybe not even knowing he/she was a witch or wizard before the Hogwarts letter arrived) can be overwhelmingly frightening. Being sorted into a house expedites the process of getting to know one's peers. Having the Sorting Hat call out your new house and hearing them sincerely cheer for you, despite the fact they know nothing about you, is a very welcoming feeling.

Houses should be kept for many reasons, tradition being one, but mainly for the sake of offering students the chance to be a part of a group of people with similar personalities and interests that can offer them a home away from home. No one likes feeling left out or rejected.

[beatific.livejournal.com]

On the contrary--having Houses does not gaurantee having friends. As inclusive as we believe our Houses to be, we cannot delude ourselves into believing that all students are accepted into their House. There will always be, for some reason or another, a student who does not fit in with the rest of his or her housemates. This, in the long run, will cause even more strife because of the students' further segregation. Because of his or her house, he or she will be segregated from most students, and because of a hypothetical reason, he or she will also be segregated from his or her own house.

Without houses, however, the support system for a student may be even broader, especially since the cheer upon announcing your name comes from the whole school, not simply one quarter of it. Those with similar personalities will gravitate together naturally, and with the lack of Houses, there is also room for them to forge bonds between people with different perspectives.

If a student only hears one perspective, and grows up with that perspective, that student will grow up biased and ignorant to other beliefs. If we were to allow for a more open school, where those of all different personailities were conversing and sharing ideas, the students would be not only more educated on the different sides of a topic, but also more tolerant and accepting of other views.

Clearly, there is nothing to lose by rejecting the Housing system, since everything it offers is also encompassed in having school unity. Rejection by both your house and the school is more painful than rejection from a certain group in a single entity. With a combined, unified school, it would be nearly impossible to be rejected by everyone, whereas being sorted into a House usually cuts one off from others almost immediately.

(Tracey//Gryffindor)

[tangerinesidhe.livejournal.com]

There are other opportunities for the students at Hogwarts to develop friendships and a sense of belonging. Because Hogwarts is a boarding school, the students will be placed into smaller groups for dorming purposes. In these groups, the students will be given a chance to get to know their schoolmates. However, instead of encouraging the students to only interact with those most like themselves, the abolition of the house system will encourage the students to practice more tolerance of difference.

The students all have a sense of belonging because they have been specially selected to attend Hogwarts. They are already special for receiving their letter of acceptance. Dividing them into groups upon arrival only serves to demonstrate that there are some groups of people they will never be part of and some qualities that they do not possess in even quantity.

Destiny//Gryffindor

Against

[ohelectricshock.livejournal.com]

in addition, grouping students into the houses and creating the team-like atmosphere forces loyalty within houses. If a student doesn't particularily agree with some aspect of the houses, or what it stands for, yet that person was sorted into that house for reasons unknown to them, who are they supposed to turn to? It's not like they can be appealed into another house, once they're sorted there's no going back. Imagine the conflict a student could face when in that situation, which is why I feel it's a good idea for students to be able to form their own groups, with people of similar interests and values.

Alex//Gryffindor

Re: Against

[tricknik.livejournal.com]

But as my proponent, harl, stated above, the houses are not organized according to beliefs. They are organized on abilities, interests and common personality traits such as: justice, honor, intelligence and determination. There are many different beliefs in one house, contrary to what we've all been exposed to. Like I stated above, we've only been exposed to a handful characters operating in extreme circumstances and we shouldn't generalize the houses beliefs or values according to them only.

And it is possible for students to form their own groups, despite being sorted into one house, take Dumbledore's Army for example. No one house strictly prohibits its members from socializing with those from another house.

The houses provide a "home base" for the students, a place where they know there will be at least one other who they can relate to.

Against

[goldendaughter.livejournal.com]

The real issue with houses is the fact that they define a person. If you are placed in Gryffindor, you are expected to have certain qualities. I would argue that these definitions of the houses lead to graduates who have been shoved into a corner. If we abolished houses, students would be able to grow in many directions, and not just in those directions that are acceptable within their houses.

We want diversity in our students, not just in our student body. To label one student with certain qualities that they must carry throughout their school career is not only short-sighted, but ultimately damaging to the community outside of Hogwarts.

Ceanna//Gryffindor

Re: Against

[opheliasavalon.livejournal.com]

I don't really agree that houses have to completely define a person. You said that if you are placed in a house, you are expected to have certain qualities. This is true up to a point; that is why you are placed into the house in the first place. However, take Hermione. She is a Gryffindor but she is still clever/intelligent, so she would also do well in Ravenclaw. She isn't ostracized from Gryffindor because she is intelligent, nor is she expected to ignore that part of herself to grow into her courage or bravery. Students are still allowed to grow in whatever direction they want. You are sorted only on the basis of a few character traits, not all of them. Students don't have to match 100% with the "personality" of their houses, its just an easy way to make sure they can find people who they might have more in common with.

Katya ~ Ravenclaw

[ciorstaidh.livejournal.com]

I believe that Hogwarts should stop Sorting students into the Houses. This is primarily because the most impartial of magical objects, the Sorting Hat itself, is unsure as to whether Hogwarts' House system, which has run for 1,000 years, is the way forward. In Order of the Phoenix, the Sorting Hat states that:

"...never since the Founders four
were whittled down to three
Have the Houses been united
As they once were meant to be."
(UK hardback, 186)

So the Houses, although devised so as to bring out the best characteristics of the individual, were meant to be united - but they have not been, for nigh on 1,000 years.

Furthermore, the Sorting Hat feels "condemned to split" new students into Houses. He worries "that it's wrong" to Sort the students (OotP, UK hardback, 186). If the Sorting Hat itself, which contains the essence of the four Founders ("The Founders put some brains in me / So I could choose instead!" Goblet of Fire, UK hardback, 157), is unhappy with the Sorting, then perhaps it is time for change.

Kirsty//Hufflepuff

For Sorting

[http://users.livejournal.com/beautiful_rain_/]

It is true that the Sorting Hat is worried about separating the students. However, in the books, we are shown the most extreme examples of what each house represents. As a way of evenly distributing students by personality and like interests, I can see little wrong with sorting houses. It is only when houses gain names for themselves (as Slytherin has become "evil" in the books) that problems arise and absolute division comes between people in different houses.

The Sorting Hat is also being forced to divide people into these opposing houses at a time when there needs to be unity against a common foe. When the houses were formed, the Founders got along, and, more than likely, the students in their houses got also got along.

I think that sorting should remain in place because it at least gives students a general sense of belonging...even if they are not best friends with everyone in their house, they belong to something important. Furthermore, when not faced with such an extreme and desperate situation as the Dark Lord and the War, the houses might not have such distinct positions in the school, and would therefore return to being inclusive of like-minds, instead of exclusive of unlike-minds.

Rain, Ravenclaw

Against

[crooked.livejournal.com]

The instant the Sorting Hat places a student into one of the four Houses, a barrier is placed between that student and 3/4 of the student body. That student now will dine at a table full of students from their House only. The students from each House live in dormitories with students from just their House. The situation is akin to segregation.

Some may argue that sorting is good because the process gathers like-minded students, placing them with others of similar interests. I argue that this can -- and does -- happen naturally without the sorting process. Students with similar interests find each other through means of clubs, extra curricular activities, and by just socializing with a broad array of people. If the students were not sorted, I'm quite sure those of similar personality and values would still find each other... not to mention, they would be more likely befriend students who are different than they are. By separating the students the instant they arrive at Hogwarts, the sorting process fails to promote tolerance of different people.

So, one may say, students still need to be separated into housing... what then? I say follow the example of universities: randomly assign housing to the students. It is that simple. Do not have separate common rooms for students of a certain House; have a general common room where any and all students can congregate and meet each other. Do not assign tables exclusive to one House; let the students sit where they may.

The students are already being singled out for their ability to perform magic. There is no need to segregate them further into Houses. Sorting leads to discrimination, feelings of superiority, rivalries where they may not have otherwise existed, stereotyping... among other things. Hogwarts would be a much more harmonious and tolerant place if the Sorting Hat were permanently shelved.

cj//Hufflepuff

Re: Against

[cantatrix05.livejournal.com]

a barrier is placed between that student and 3/4 of the student body.

This 'barrier' really isn't much different than children who attend public schools. They mingle with their peers in classes and in clubs and after school, they return to their families.

Some may argue that sorting is good because the process gathers like-minded students, placing them with others of similar interests.

It is true that members of a House share some characteristics but I wouldn't argue that the students in each House are 'like-minded'. Housemates may (and do) have differing opinions and experiences- (Hermione and the Weasley twins are 'like-minded'?). The House structure gives them the freedom to be different but still know that they can rely on their Housemates for support outside the House. it provides the family structure that these children have left behind- or perhaps never had.

cantatrix05/slytherin

For Houses.

[papered.livejournal.com]

As soon as the sorting hat places a child into their best-suited House, a sense of unity appears. Especially for the first year students, some of them having never known about the existence of magic before, this feeling of "together-ness" will help hold everything together. Students will be given a chance to work with people who have similar traits as them, and they can get along together and help each other in their studies, homework, etc. Interhouse competitions also bring house members together as they learn to trust the people around them.

Although one might argue that having Houses will lead to rivalries, it can easily be same situation WITHOUT houses. There will always be hatred and prejudices in the school. Even in normal high schools, there are always fights and violence between certain students. The problem is always there, not something specifically CAUSED by having houses.

Having houses would definitely benefit a lot of students who may have trouble fitting in. Also the problem may still exist, dividing the students into smaller groups would mean more time for students to interact with that group.

Re: For Houses.

[beatific.livejournal.com]

Let me take a different spin on this...

As soon as the sorting hat places a child into their best-suited House, a sense of rivalry appears. Especially for first year students, most of them never having seen each other before, this feeling of us-versus-them in everything: Quidditch, House Cup, classes--this feeling of rivarly remains.

Having Houses will lead to rivalries, but it can easily be same situation WITHOUT houses, EXCEPT FOR the fact that by absolving houses, the rivalries between them will dissapear, and there will be ONE LESS rivalry to deal with, which leads toward the common good, and towards a less biased society.

There will always be hatred and prejudices in the school, so why compound them by creating another prejudice by using the Sorting System? Dividing the students into smaller groups would mean more time for students to interact with that group, so if we absolved houses, the students could interact with the entire school, therefore increasing school--not house--unity.

I could go on, but it's "dead week" [finals are yuck] so I'll stop there.

(Tracey//Gryffindor)

For Houses

[jedilora.livejournal.com]

Hogwarts should absolutely continue sorting children into Houses.

When a child arrives at Hogwarts, he or she is already sorted into some group. Muggleborn or Wizardstock, they are already heading into a new place where they are going to be differentiated in significant ways from fellow students. By sorting them into Houses, they are given a shared idendity with other students, ones who, by virtue of magical means, are going to have a high potential of being friendly towards each other.

The House system also does not preclude making friends in others Houses. Rather, it allows for the best chances of making friends in a rather peculiar new place.

Rachel, Ravenclaw

Re: For Houses

[beatific.livejournal.com]

The House system also does not preclude making friends in others Houses.

Then what, praytell, does? Even if the students are sorted into Muggleborn or Pureblood or Halfblood, does that mean they cannot intermingle? Does that mean that once we have sorted them one way, we must allow for other kinds of sorting? In psychology this is called a "foot int he door" effect and it does NOT have a good connotation--it means that once someone has been convinced to be obedient to something small, they are more likely to be obedient for something big. Hitler used this pyschological technique to gain followers [of course, this is nothing compared to Hitler]

Rather, it allows for the best chances of making friends in a rather peculiar new place.

Not necessarily--just look at Hermione in the beginning of first year.

(Tracey//Gryffindor)

In favor of sorting

[wtfbrain.livejournal.com]

Many people have mentioned that being sorted into a specific house puts a barried between the student and the other three houses. I believe that while this may be partly true, the other, more evident consequence - that of being placed within a group of people who have things in common with the student, and are ready and willing to accept the new student into the group (even briefly, as at the Sorting Ceremony/Welcome Feast) - is far more important.

A new student is, let's face it, taken away from her home, from her family, and sometimes - as in the case of Muggle borns - from her friends. She finds herself whisked across the country, taken across a possibly dangerous lake, and placed in front of a panel of stern-faced teachers and hundreds of students she's never met. Being sorted into a house gives the student an anchor in a place where everything and everyone is a stranger. If Hogwarts was merely a boarding school with regular parental visits, perhaps the sense of belonging and security that one's house gives would not be needed, but given that it's not, I believe that the sorting is absolutely essential to the well-being of the new students.

There is nothing that prevents the students from forming friendships with people from other houses, founding inter-house clubs, or generally associating with other houses. The isolationist qualities of individual houses are not an innate problem of the house system, instead, they are fostered by individuals within the houses - be it older students taking "house pride" to the extreme, or teachers siding with their favored houses for the sake of the housea themselve, not the students within them.

The house system is fundamentally sound - it is its internal structure that needs to be examined. Having a place to belong, people to associate with, and a common cause - house pride - to work towards is something that is absolutely necessary to foster the full development of the students. Any faults within the system may be remedied by altering the behavior of individuals within the system, instead of abolishing the system which has worked for centuries.

PJ // Ravenclaw

Re: In favor of sorting

[crooked.livejournal.com]

The isolationist qualities are very much an innate problem of the House system, as rings true whenever there is segregation. The sorting process immediately places the students into different categories and that fosters elitism and discrimination.

Students can just as easily find their own social groups without being forced into a group of someone else's choosing; it occurs all the time in situations without Sorting Hats. And while there is nothing that explicitly prohibits inter-House relations, there doesn't appear to be anything that exactly encourages it either. Students of different Houses sit at separate tables, have exclusive common rooms, root for House teams (as opposed to one school team taking on other schools), and live within House dormitories.

Rather than focus on House pride, it would be far more beneficial for the students to possess Hogwarts pride and stand as a more unified front.

cj//Hufflepuff

[tricknik.livejournal.com]

We don't know if Neville has close friends or not. You assume he doesn't, I assume he does and we just don't know about it - because he isn't a main character. However, he is still a Gryffindor and he screws up all of the time. But we've yet to read anything that says "the Gryffindors no longer have anything to do with Neville because he loses hundreds of points every year."

Of course grudges can arise in houses. But grudges can arise in any situation. Grudges happen every week in my office, but we get over it and I would still defend my co-workers against a competitor out of a sense of loyalty and pride, despite the fact I don't always like them.

[cantatrix05.livejournal.com]

The House system at Hogwarts provides a structure for the children that they need. They are leaving their homes at a relatively young age and their House (like a famous Gryffindor once said) becomes their family. The prefects function as older siblings; the Head of House, as a parent. The students are also part of a team from the very beginning. They have added incentive to do well and participate because doing so will gan them points and the admiration of their Housemates.

It is true that there will always be cliques, no matter what the system. But the history of one's House will allow you a sense of pride in those accomplishments and those of your Housemates, no matter what you may achieve on your own.

cantatrix05/slytherin

[erinypies.livejournal.com]

Agreeing with my fellow housemate seairleas, I too think there will become more problems if students from houses think they are somewhat a sort of 'family'. Yes I don't think there's anything wrong with being so close to someone/something, but what's going to happen if somebody starts to 'mess' with your 'family'. There are going to be many problems/fights that are going to be arise. Houses against Houses.


erin*gryffindor

[tricknik.livejournal.com]

Another thing to look at is this: if Hogwarts were to abandon the house system as of the beginning of say, book six what would that achieve? You can't say that Gryffindors aren't going to continue to hang with their usual sets of Gryffindor friends. Everyone that is a continuing student will still be identified by his/her house. Luna will still be a Ravenclaw, Hermione will still be a Gryffindor, Draco will still be Slytherin (sorry, I've been at this for hours and have an eight week old puppy trying to eat my computer cords so I can't think of a Hufflepuff right now!)

The only students that won't continue to be identified by houses are incoming first years. They will be free to pick and choose their friends without pre-disposed house discrimination, which is what my opponents are arguing for. HOWEVER, every pureblood will automatically be associated with the Slytherins and be labeled as a Slytherin. Any highly intelligent student will be sought out by those who were Ravenclaws and thus be associated with them and labeled as one.

The sorting will continue, just not in an official capacity. It is engraved in human nature for us to sort ourselves.

On top of that, abandoning the house system would imply all years would be assigned new dorms. Could you imagine what it would be like if Hermione Granger and Pansy Parkinson ended up in the same dorm? That would be unthinkable. Therefore, there would still have to be someone or some"thing" who/that sorted students into dorms, taking into consideration who would get along with whom who wouldn't hex whom into oblivion, therefore, putting in place a similar segregation.

[papered.livejournal.com]

Another thing to look at is this: if Hogwarts were to abandon the house system as of the beginning of say, book six what would that achieve? You can't say that Gryffindors aren't going to continue to hang with their usual sets of Gryffindor friends.

Exactly. So even IF the Sorting system was scrapped, older students would continue to influence the younger students about their "thoughts" on other houses. It wouldn't be a solution to the prejudice problem.

Also, right now, there seems to be no big huge problems regarding the existance of houses. o.O Personally, I don't see a reason to change this system.

For Houses

[prettyveela.livejournal.com]

If it ain't broke why fix it?

I've always thought that the sorting hat was sorting the person into the house they WANTED. So if it's your own free will making the choice, why change the way things are now?

Harry is a perfect example of this. The hat hemmed and hawed until Harry told the hat that he DIDN'T want to be in Slytherin. The hat thought he would be GREAT in Slytherin, but he made the choice not to be, so the hat put him in Gryffindor. I think the house sorting a wonderful way for people to make a choice of where they want to be, and meeting like minded people who feel the same.


PV/Slytherin

Re: For Houses

[crooked.livejournal.com]

On the contrary - if the Sorting Hat places you into the House you want, what is the point of it? You will just gravitate to the people with whom you have more in common anyway. There is no need to create the division and elitism that the House system fosters.

I was under the impression that the Hat sorted you where it felt you'd do best. I think in the case of Harry, he was too borderline. Since the Sorting Hat can't "no vote" like us, it may have let Harry influence its final decision just to make a choice either way.

cj//Hufflepuff

[semirose.livejournal.com]

The house system has worked just fine for centuries, why does it suddenly need to be changed? Because of a war? There have been wars in the past and yet there was never a need to ruin a perfectly good system. The difference is that before people knew to fix problems rather than just scrap the existing system for something that could have even more problems.

For example, should you just lump all the students in one area, then problems are bound to arise. With so many different personality types in one area, nothing can go well. There is a reason the students are split up, because teenagers are very volatile and they will fight with people they like when in closed quarters. Just imagine if it's someone they don't like or unerstand. Be prepared for an explosion.

There are other ways to promote house unity with out abolishing the house system. Forcing students to interact more with students from other houses, not having seperate seating during meals, having more school wide activities. All of these force students to get to know one another better without forcing them to leave their houses.

Maia//Ravenclaw

[tricknik.livejournal.com]

That is an excellent point Maia. I have to agree with my proponent that just because a war and difficult times lay ahead, tradition shouldn't be scrapped. The house system has been in place for centuries, don't use it as the excuse for increasing rivalry.

War brings out the worst in people. Many younger, school-aged children are the ones who need the most support and guidance during times of war and by taking away a system that they are used to being a part of will only lead to confusion and possible trepidation.

It was Created for a Reason.

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

The Sorting Hat was created for a reason. We may not know that reason but can safely assume like so many other safeguards at Hogwarts, it is a necessary part of the school. The Sorting Hat allows a student to be quickly put into the group that will help their strengths and limit their weaknesses rather than allowing the students to mill about for a year before the teachers decided what is best for them. With the hat no accusation of bias can be leveled against the faculty for picking a student. I think in some cases a student thinks that they are one house when in their heart of hearts they really belong in another. The Hat must stay.

PuppetMaker
Gryffindor

The Real World

[http://users.livejournal.com/siriusdenial_/]

The sorting should be stopped.

Sorting students into houses creates weaknesses among students. Most of the time, they are surrounded by people similar or just like themselves, giving them a smaller ability to get on well with other people. If we don't have the chance to make friends with people who are different than us, then how will we prepare for the real world?

After Hogwarts, we will be surrounded by all sorts of people coming from a variety of houses and schools, we can't get used to being around people like ourselves; this weakens students' "people instincts" and confines us to similar people. And that's not helpful at all, now is it?

Anna/Hufflepuff

Re: The Real World

[tricknik.livejournal.com]

Everyone against the houses is assuming that students don't branch out and make friends from other houses. Nowhere in the books have we seen it written that students aren't able or are forbidden to make friends from opposing houses. They eat in the same place, share a library, share classes and visit Hogsmeade at the same time. If a student limits himself/herself to friends from his/her house that is a personal choice.