HP Stickers, Snape, Dumbledore, etc.

[Ebony Elizabeth]

No: HPFGUIDX 1206

(This is my attempt to comply with the founders' command to combine 
replies into a single post.)

HOUSE PENNANT STICKERS

One of my former fifth graders found HP merchandise this summer 
during a trip to either Virginia or West Virginia.  She and her mom  
purchased an item for me--a set of HP House "Pennant" stickers.  
Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Slytherin, and Ravenclaw are all rendered 
with mascot and in the appropriate colors.  I'm not sure where to 
purchase them, but as a Quidditch fan thought I would mention it.  :)

SNAPE AND TEACHING

I'm much too weary to get on my K-12 teaching soap box today.  At 
this point I am convinced that American education will fail if public 
perception/training/compensation of the teaching force does not 
change.  This country will need 2 million teachers in the next 5-10 
years.  Common sense should reveal to the American public that 
telling its brightest and best that "those who can, do; those who 
can't, teach" is self-defeating to say the least.  IMO it is rather 
like shooting ourselves in the collective foot. 

While Snape is not my favorite character, I am not shocked by his 
negative teaching style.  Anyone who seeks to condemn him should 
spend a day or two teaching an overcrowded room of adolescents.  
Every teacher has Snapish moments.  We're not perfect, and neither 
are the kids we teach.

DUMBLEDORE AND FICTION RULES

Yes, there are rules in fiction.  Most successfully published writers 
follow the rules to a fault and produce the mass of material on store 
bookshelves--it is known as "category fiction" in publishing.  We 
enjoy their books and then we go on with our lives not noticeably 
altered.  

However, there are rare authors who are masters of the craft.  They 
transcend genre.  They don't follow rules.  They create their own.  
Their stories speak not just to their contemporaries but to all 
generations.  Their tales are not just for a particular reading 
preference group.  They are for everyone.

Having said that, I think I will reserve final judgment on 
Dumbledore's character until we know more about where the main plot 
is headed.  Not knowing is fun sometimes.

HARRY NAME DEBATE

I'm still not convinced that Harry's name is just Harry if his middle 
name is James.  JKR has a knack for getting character names just 
right.  As I ranted on the PoU list last week, Harry James Potter 
doesn't seem *just right* for several reasons.  (No, Penny, I am 
*not* trying to annoy you--we do agree on most other issues.  Today 
while listening to GoF I found another small H/H support I don't 
think anyone's mentioned yet... so don't argue me down! :))  

TEACHING HP and LIT ANALYSIS

Will look up the Teaching HP book next time I head to Borders... 
thanks, Lori, for the recommendation.  I do hope the information is 
not repetitive or impractical like many similar teacher's guides.  
And with the length/depth of some of the posts here lately, I'm glad 
that I signed up for a 7000 Lit Theory course this semester.  Perhaps 
all the essays and discourses will help strengthen my positions re: 
the recurring topics here.  

(NOTICE:  Will upload to FORT soon as I catch some z's, FAQers--don't 
fuss at me for posting here and not working, please!  I've been 
working all day.  Cut me some slack!  :)

Ebony AKA AngieJ