A Reminder to ALL Students
Oct. 19th, 2011 11:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alt_penelope posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
alternityBullying at Hogwarts will NOT be tolerated.
The recent spate of hexing and other incidents has not gone outside the Prefects' notice. At tonight's meeting we discussed several students who have already lost their Houses points and in at least two cases, earned detention for malicious and flagrant jinxes cast upon others in their cohorts.
Bullying is unacceptable under all circumstances, but especially so when the victim is a year or even two years younger, making any attempt at defence virtually impossible.
We are particularly shocked that this rash of behaviour comes just when we welcome our foreign guests. It's barely half a week since they've arrived and while some of you seem to be getting to know the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students already, and I'm pleased to say getting on well, others seem to think that your best opportunity to 'show off' your abilities is through these boorish and cowardly acts of harassment.
Effective immediately, anyone caught engaging in such practice will serve detention and bring a penalty of 100 House Points to his or her House. Furthermore, if any such person is a member of the YPL, CCF, or similar team, society or school-sanctioned club, then that person's privilege to participate may be suspended or even revoked, in consultation with that group's teacher-advisor. The same goes for anyone reported to be engaged in bullying, if it is found that the reports have merit. The Head Boy and I have agreed that the use of the Cruciatus Curse will be employed as we deem appropriate, within our rights as Prefect-leaders.
Anyone who is the victim of bullying is hereby strongly encouraged to report the names of your tormentors to your Prefects.
This includes our student-visitors. I need not remind our students that the rules of hospitality most certainly apply to our guests.
Oh, and on a somewhat-related note: Please do stop requesting Mr Krum's autograph! He has especially asked that the young ladies who have taken to escorting him to his lessons desist, as they have made him tardy on more than one occasion this week. At the very least, kindly let him visit the boys' bathrooms without being followed!
The recent spate of hexing and other incidents has not gone outside the Prefects' notice. At tonight's meeting we discussed several students who have already lost their Houses points and in at least two cases, earned detention for malicious and flagrant jinxes cast upon others in their cohorts.
Bullying is unacceptable under all circumstances, but especially so when the victim is a year or even two years younger, making any attempt at defence virtually impossible.
We are particularly shocked that this rash of behaviour comes just when we welcome our foreign guests. It's barely half a week since they've arrived and while some of you seem to be getting to know the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students already, and I'm pleased to say getting on well, others seem to think that your best opportunity to 'show off' your abilities is through these boorish and cowardly acts of harassment.
Effective immediately, anyone caught engaging in such practice will serve detention and bring a penalty of 100 House Points to his or her House. Furthermore, if any such person is a member of the YPL, CCF, or similar team, society or school-sanctioned club, then that person's privilege to participate may be suspended or even revoked, in consultation with that group's teacher-advisor. The same goes for anyone reported to be engaged in bullying, if it is found that the reports have merit. The Head Boy and I have agreed that the use of the Cruciatus Curse will be employed as we deem appropriate, within our rights as Prefect-leaders.
Anyone who is the victim of bullying is hereby strongly encouraged to report the names of your tormentors to your Prefects.
This includes our student-visitors. I need not remind our students that the rules of hospitality most certainly apply to our guests.
Oh, and on a somewhat-related note: Please do stop requesting Mr Krum's autograph! He has especially asked that the young ladies who have taken to escorting him to his lessons desist, as they have made him tardy on more than one occasion this week. At the very least, kindly let him visit the boys' bathrooms without being followed!
Private message to Penelope Clearwater
Date: 2011-10-20 01:49 pm (UTC)Thank you for your leadership, as always.
Should you have concerns - even if there is insufficient evidence to take action - about any of the older YPL students (especially those in the CCF), I would appreciate knowing as soon as possible. Bullying among the younger students is, of course, a problem that must be dealt with promptly as well, but we expect only the best behavior of our older students in the programme, as you know.
While I'm writing - the rosters for shifts are posted now. I believe we've enough people to finish the prep work tonight, but if you happened across another person or two good at charms, we could still use them. I believe Saturday morning should run smoothly, but if you've a need, I'll have my journal handy.
Re: Private message to Penelope Clearwater
Date: 2011-10-20 07:41 pm (UTC)Yes, we've been having some fun coming up with the challenges. I have the sign-up parchments I passed round last night. I can certainly come this afternoon if you need additional help and Tamblyn said he'd be happy to make himself available as well.
As for the identities of the bullies, I haven't heard anything specific about the CCF students, but I've heard some rumours about Warrington and Montague, in third year. I know Donovan's been having a particularly bad time of it, though I suspect that's more due to that crop of Irish purebloods we have starting this year. He's in third, so I hadn't thought he'd be troubled by them.
I'm not sure about the wisdom of claiming 100 points, either but - well, to be honest, I supposed we're hoping that the threat of that large a deficit is more of a deterrent than anything. It's not that we want students to grass on each other, of course, but--well, as you know, Professor, we can't see everything that goes on in this place!
And...I don't know if I should say anything yet, because we have no proof, but I think one or two of ours may have targetted the British-born student from Beauxbatons, Finch-whatever. I can't prove anything, as I said, but I did pass him and his friend as they were leaving their dormitories near the Ravenclaw common room and it looked as if he was recovering from some kind of hazing. I hate to think anyone at Hogwarts would do such a thing, of course, but given that our previous attempts to discipline them have gone mostly unheeded, well. I can't rule it out as a possibility.
Do you know their Professor Froissart at all? I wonder if it's better to ask him how he would like to proceed when matters involve his charges?
Re: Private message to Penelope Clearwater
Date: 2011-10-20 07:53 pm (UTC)Thanks for giving me some idea where to keep an eye out (and I'll certainly pass it along, as needed, to other professors.) As to Professor Froissart: I've had a couple of very brief conversations with him. I'll have a word with either him or the Headmistress and see if we can find out how he'd prefer to handle such things.
I do have some ideas on the groupings for Saturday, as well: I'm assuming the students will largely pick their own groups, but if you see any patterns that will be troublesome, do let me know, and we'll find some excuse to rearrange them. I do want to do our best to ensure that each group has at least one and better two guests in it, of course.
Re: Private message to Penelope Clearwater
Date: 2011-10-20 08:01 pm (UTC)Re: Private message to Penelope Clearwater
Date: 2011-10-20 08:20 pm (UTC)I've been chatting with the headmistress about some other matters, and she's let me know she'll have a quiet word with Professor Froissart. If you do have any direct evidence at a later point, feel free to let her know directly (though do take some care with confidences: we'd hate for there to be international difficulties, and things of this kind can be so touchy.)
Re: Private message to Penelope Clearwater
Date: 2011-10-20 08:25 pm (UTC)Yes.
If you think she'll reallyYes, that would probably be best. Thank you, Professor, for bringing it up with her.Re: Private message to Penelope Clearwater
Date: 2011-10-20 08:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-20 03:30 pm (UTC)Such indiscipline is disgraceful; it brings shame upon all of us in the Protectorate.
no subject
Date: 2011-10-20 07:43 pm (UTC)It's ridiculous, is what it is. And infuriating. But we'll put a stopper in it one way or another.
Private message to Penelope Clearwater
Date: 2011-10-21 12:23 am (UTC)Has it been so very awful? I'm so sorry.
Thinking of you.
Re: Private message to Penelope Clearwater
Date: 2011-10-21 03:44 am (UTC)Thank you. I haven't wanted to pester you; I know it's got to be a fantastically busy time for you, with Mr Malfoy at the Wizengamot and all.
But - yes, I just can't see letting this sort of thing get out of hand, especially not with foreign dignitaries roaming the school. Only where before, they were all grumbling about being harassed, now they're complaining that we're asking them to grass on each other. Can't win, I suppose.
And then Sandoval, if you please. Ohhh, she just sets my teeth on edge. She thinks she's so perfect. What a laugh! You remember how the other prefects used to talk about her behind her back when she was Head Girl?
Of course, I think about that and I wonder what in Merlin's name they're saying about me. Probably that I'm just all talk. But we had to do something, we couldn't just let it go on without any sort of consequences!
And you should SEE the way people around here are treating that Viktor Krum! I'm serious, Perce, the poor bloke couldn't use the bloody loo without getting mobbed by these girls. Some of them were Beauxbatons, I know, but most were ours. It was dead embarrassing! And having him come to me, privately, to ask if I'd tell them to leave him alone? I thought I'd die, honestly.
Not because he's a star, of course. Just from the shame of the whole episode.
Is it too late to give the badge to Kathryn Pyle and have done with it?
I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2011-10-21 12:27 am (UTC)Oh, that'll go over real well. Getting a reputation of being a snitch. On top of all the other problems.
Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2011-10-21 12:29 am (UTC)Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2011-10-21 12:30 am (UTC)It's not as easy. As she's making it out to be. To report someone.
Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2011-10-21 12:31 am (UTC)Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2011-10-21 12:32 am (UTC)Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2011-10-21 12:34 am (UTC)I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good: Private message to Fred and George Weasley
Date: 2011-10-21 12:37 am (UTC)Didn't think anything of it before, but...you know, I sort of half-noticed yesterday that Neville had a shadow along his jaw line.
Maybe a bruise?
Come to think of it, he's been sitting with his sister Evelyn at meals. Like every meal. Just started this week.
Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good: Private message to Fred and George Weasley
Date: 2011-10-21 12:38 am (UTC)Thanks for the tip, Lee. We'll start keeping a closer eye on him. On both of them.
Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2011-10-21 02:05 am (UTC)But you can have your friends watch your back. If you let them know what they should be watching for.
Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2011-10-21 02:06 am (UTC)Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2011-10-21 02:06 am (UTC)