Students:

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Students on the following list, please report to my office promptly at noon. (Staff and fellow students, please alert those you see, as it would be much better for everyone to sort this out now.)

Jill Capper
Maegera Featherstone
Michelle Iskanderian
Rebecca Mackrell
Phillip MacMillan
Darshana Patil
Padma Patil
Maurice Scroops
Judith Starling
Felicity Whisp
Ginevra Weasley
Ronald Weasley

Comments

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To clarify a question received in our little discussion at noon, I wish to be clear that of course, private messages will be appropriate from time to time. Our Lord has given us a great gift, and failing to use it would be entirely improper and ungrateful.

However, the point I wish to be crystal clear about is that those uses should be limited to those times when they are truly necessary. Ask yourself, dear students, the following questions:

1) Does this comment truly serve Our Lord and Our Glorious Protectorate? Does it develop our skills, make us smarter or help us become wiser? Does it shape us to become even more loyal, a better tool for Our Lord's hand? Does it lead us to the joys of service, hard work, and commitment?

If it does not do these things, why does it exist? Spend your time, my dear students, on those things that serve your goals, not thoughtless or even hurtful distractions.

2) Would you say this thing to the person in public? If not, should it be said at all? Even in your private messages and conversations, your very words shape your reactions to others. It is your duty to always build appropriate relationships with all who help build Our Better Protectorate.

Remember, you may need that person's help at some point in the future!

3) If you must provide a correction or comment on some personal failing, and if you are truly the appropriate person to provide that comment, then a private message may well be appropriate. Sometimes a sharp word is all that's needed to send someone in a far better direction. Naturally, however, this is a challenge that we expect only our Prefects and YPL counsellors to shoulder regularly.

4) Of course, from time to time, private comments may be necessary for various trivial matters - no one needs to read a message to your mother about socks, you might wish to plan a surprise for a friend in private, or to ask an older and trusted adult in your life for advice about a difficult situation. But each and every time, ask yourself "Is this necessary? Is this helpful? What is its very purpose?"

And be prepared, should you be asked, to explain your reasoning.