Global Citizenship (Spring Terms)

Dominique then raised her hand and was waiting to be called on. As she listened to every word that was being said. But she thought that she could best represent the America side. And she was hoping that this was enough to impress the headmistress. And she would have to mention this to Jackson, just so he knows that she actually pays attention when there is talk about politics.

“ Both President Nixon and President Clinton would be two examples.” Now came the time for her to prove herself that she actually has been paying attention to everything. “ Even though there are some good to his terms being president. He was the one who ended the Vietnam war on January 20, 1973. But the thing that got him impeached was the watergate scandal. Which was tied to a crime in which former FBI and CIA agents broke into the offices of the Democratic Party and George McGovern , who was a Presidential candidate. Nixon's helpers listened to phone lines and secret papers were stolen. It was talked about everywhere in the news.” So far Dominique was doing good. Now she just had to explain the second part of her example.

“ President Bill Clinton is known for being president during one of the longest periods of peace and economic expansion in American history. But the one thing that he is remembered for is his affair with Monica Lewinsky. It was all over the news and was what everybody was talking about. As everybody wanted to know if President Clinton was going to be impeached or not.”

"Excellent examples from both Ms. Clement and Ms. Greene," Adelaide responded once the young ladies were finished with their interpretations of the fourth estate's influence. The redhead took a moment to note that each had given an example relevant to their native country which only served to prove her theory that education began at home. "Take five points each."

The class darkened once more and the Headmistress resumed her lecture, making sure she had complete silence and everyone's attention. "As seen from the examples provided by your classmates, the power given to the Fourth Estate can be extremely useful or dangerous in the wrong hands. So it is only natural that people tend to try and control it to their benefit. Til date the best example of a dictatorship is silencing the free press, the most notable example of a demagogue someone who delegitimizes the media or starts a competing media narrative to tell a different story." The blackboard now played what looked like a muggle video clip of two news story, drawing the student to listen.

"And today, the bomber was apprehended on several charges of-"

"That is how an innocent man was forcible taken by the police without prior notice."

"Air port security is to blame for the bombing of-"

The actual words of the story were not as important as the gist fo the three different perspectives. The stories faded and Adelaide's smooth voice took over once more. "Which brings us once again, to power. A recurring theme in this class and your life should you take a closer look. More specifically, we will be touching upon Hard and Soft Power." As she spoke, two objects appeared on the board, a sharpened sword and a shiny fountain pen.

"The definitions and examples of both powers are in your textbook but to put it simply, Hard Power refers to coercion. Wars, economic pressures, holding a group or resources hostage, all these coerce others into doing something for you. Soft power on the other hand encourages people to cooperate and changes their minds and behaviors about you. Soft power is usually gained through culture and media influence. For today's homework, you are all required to argue if the Fourth Estate falls under the category of Hard or Soft Power within a country." As she spoke, the pen and sword grow similar in size and the board and a battle ensued, ending only a minute later but with no clear victor.

"And for those of you who think this is a trick question and that the answer is both, let me reassure you that you will get a zero for such an answer. I would like to see you argue one side, please leave your otherwise roundabout reasoning for a philosophy class. ." The last time she had asked a question that relied on the either/or principle, some of the very students in this class had deemed it fit to argue both sides. Adelaide would make sure that didn't happen again.

"And finally, before I let you go, who here collected the most daggers or coins as per last semester's assignment. Please step forward and deposit your yield on my desk for an additional ten points."

Janet listened to her classmate's examples, considering both situations silently and nodding at the reasoning behind each. She tilted her head as they watched a video that showed different news stories. It was strange to her how the media could take one story and twist them into two completely different arguments. There were at least two sides to every story she supposed, and yet it still confused her how more than one view of the story could be deemed true. Or, at least partly true.

The headmistress then spoke of the differences between Hard and Soft power and asked which of the two the media, or Fourth Estate, or whatever used. Janet knew the answer immediately and knew it must be Soft power. After all, the actual media didn't hold people, hostage, people did that. And from what she understood, the Fourth Estate was more of an idea than a real group of people. She guessed news reporters and people like that were technically the people of the Fourth Power, but she still felt like it was more of an idea than a solid group. That was why it wasn't a real part of the pyramid, just a cloud hovering above it and corrupting people from every part of the pyramid.

Ms. Goshawk then asked for them to turn in their coins and daggers and Janet nodded. She had completely forgotten about them within the last few days, but she was confident with her stash. She hadn't attended the class they were handed out during, though upon speaking to the headmistress later, she was allowed the chance to participate. She had been at a disadvantage, however, as she had to start with neither dagger nor coin, but just her wit since she had not made it to the class to actually get the items.

This is the long-run hadn't mattered though. Her strategy would have been the same regardless, for she had hosted a competition herself with other students in her house that were in the class. That and another competition with students from other classes.

The first that was hosted in the Slytherin common room was rather simple. It was somewhat of a gambling game. Her and whoever wished to challenge her placed a bet, however many coins and/or daggers they wished. She and her competitor then played a game of chess, a game Janet was particularly skilled at. She won most of her games, though she lost a couple as well. Every once in a while she would even lose on purpose, just to make it seem like she wasn't quite as great as the game as she was, and to encourage others and make it seem like they had a greater chance than she let on.

The second game was much like the first in terms of the gambling side, but instead of chess, she hosted races. She used the same strategy as her first game, allowing certain individuals to win to make it seem like anyone could win. Overall both games were successful and she ended up with plenty of both coins and daggers, though she traded other people her daggers for coins. altogether she ended up with around eighteen coins or so, partly due to people over-betting and then losing.

She scooped her coins from her desk, walking to the front of the room to deposit them on the headmistress' desk.

Clara spent the class taking notes and listening, rather than speaking too much. While she thought the answers in her head, she let other people say them aloud--or more accurately, other people beat her to it. Still, she wasn't all that bothered about who said what as long as she understood it all.

At the end of the class, she jotted down the homework assignment. Her first instinct was probably Soft Power, since the media worked by manipulating people's opinions. What they did next (Hard Power such as protesting, rioting, or fighting) was up to them, and not part of the Fourth Estate.

As the headmistress called people up to turn in their daggers and coins, Clara watched Janet rise from beside her, an enormous stash of coins in hand. Clara blinked incredulously. That was way too many--an implausible amount considering the number of people in the class. In terms of amount, Janet had certainly won, but...Clara smirked slightly. Some of those coins had to be some of the fake ones she had put into circulation. The only way she could've gotten so many was with the inflated market Clara had created.

With that in mind, Clara also went up to the front and deposited her five daggers, and her one real coin, which she had kept. She hoped that she was right in assuming the headmistress would be able to tell when coins were fake--and that she wouldn't count the ones that were. Clara liked Janet well enough, but she had a competitive streak when it came to school related activities.

As the young ladies brought their various bounties forwards, it was clear that some had tried harder than others to succeed. After all, the exercise was about influence, cunning and slight of hand, qualities that would never be common in everyone. For one individual to posses all three would be a near miracle.

As the items were deposited on her desk, it was clear an inflation had occurred. A total of thirty dagger and coins had been given out and it seemed at least fifty coins were being returned. The Headmistress smiled, someone had clearly had a good idea. Adelaide counted out each girl's treasures, eliminating those who only showed up with one item or all fake ones before moving on to the girls who had done the bare minimum of keeping their two items safe. Moving on from them, now came the task of evaluating the girls and multiple items they presented.

In the end, only two young witches remained, Ms. Goldsmiths with her five original daggers and a single gold coin and Ms. Shining with her plethora of original and fake gold. Slowly, the headmistress began to separate the real from the make belief.

One, two three, four, five... Five original coins from Ms. Shining and then, one more lost among the fake glitter, six coins.

"We appear to have a tie," she announced calmly after placing six of the Slytherin's coins in a small heap on the right and Clara's heap of mostly daggers to the left. "Well done ladies, ten points to each of you." It was the first time the redhead had openly praised anyone that year, not because she wished to make the girls feel good about themselves but because resourcefulness deserved recognition.

"As for the rest of you, I advise you try harder next year or learn by stumbling about in the real world. It is up to you to decide how much bruising you would like before the lesson sinks in. Your exams are on Monday, anyone who scores below an Acceptable is welcome to take up another class to fill the hole left in their schedule from dropping this one. Good day."

And just like that, the final class of the Spring term was dismissed.