Is Dumbledore Right that Hogwarts "sorts too soon?"

Okay, this is one of the questions from Mugglenet's book. I am going to give both sides, and then my opinion. My beloved Mugglenet, I did try to use some arguments that were not pointed out in your book, though naturally some of the points overlap. Readers, enjoy! I hope this gets your brain buzzing, at least for a bit.

YES

Being judged at the age of 11 is not really a great way to start off a seven-year experience. For those who have grown up in the wizarding world, it would be a bit easier, as they know what to expect (unless you have Fred and George for brothers). However, muggle-borns are going to be at a complete loss, and the feeling of being judged is not going to make for a warm welcome for most children.

The Sorting Hat seems to give the students what they want, and at age 11 no child really knows what they want. Since there are no real "upsets," it seems that the hat does not really think for itself (or perhaps it has gotten lazy over the years). The hat is supposed to look on the inside and decide as an impartial judge where the student should go, but normally the hat just puts students where they/their families want them to go.

For instance, Percy Weasley seems to have some major Slytherin traits. He is very proud and power hungry, leaving his own family in the dust, not to mention the fact that he is a pureblood. Coming back in the heat of battle redeems him in the eyes of his family, but as a reader I was still thinking "you git." In this case, it seems that the hat just put him in with his brothers, and we end up with a line of Gryffindors all the way down to Ginny.

In the books we see many cases of a "wrong sorting." Regulus, Snape, Pettigrew...and someone should do something about this system--People change, and children do not generally know their own mind.

NO

Sorting is tradition and as we see over and over again in the Potterverse, tradition is very important. Can anyone imagine Hogwarts with no houses? Or pooling the new students together for a couple of years until they are old enough to sort? Even as fans we all pick a house for ourselves, and hold to that (just in case we finally get that letter).

The most important thing to remember about the Sorting Hat is that it looks at the end of the equation not all the pluses and minuses. The total outcome off all the parts of a personality is the most important part of the personality. Does a child lean towards the mean side? Loyal? True? Thoughtful? Looking at all the traits and talents and being able to come to a final answer, well that is one smart hat!

If the students were not sorted, how on earth would they keep the students under control? Could you imagine having all the fourth year boys in one dormitory? (Has anyone seen a college dorm...that + magic...wow). Add in all of the personalities clashing and all you have is a big mess. There are enough tiffs among house members, but at least they basically have the same core values. Mixing the houses would only lead to trouble.

The prejudices that develop and follow students through life is the problem of the individuals, not the system. If the Slytherins wanted to be loved by everyone and not make judgements themselves, they could do that. They choose not too.

That choice is the main proof for Sorting. Our beloved D'dore himself says that it is the choices that make the person and the Sorting Hat always leaves room for choice.

MY HUMBLE OPINION

I think that the sorting system should stay in place. Yes, there are some cases where we see a person change later in life, but this is not the case with most of the students. Snape does after all become a Death Eater, even if he repents later. Regulus also does this, even if he is courageous later. Pettigrew is courageous in his own way, even though he uses it for evil. Bottom line--sorting is tradition and helps the students make friends for life.