[HPforGrownups] Dumbledore as Headmaster

[Pam Hugonnet]

No: HPFGUIDX 2430



Christina Gross wrote:

> Dumbledore leaves running Hogwarts the School to Professor McGonagal
> and concentrates on running Hogwarts the Center of Resistance against
> Evil. Hagrid says that during Voldemort's reign Hogwarts was the only
> safe place there was. From what is known about the Marauders we learn
> that Dumbledore uses his position to groom and recruit fighters
> against Evil from among his students. Being headmaster of the most
> prestigious school of wizardry at least in Britain also gives him the
> opportunity to keep an eye on the next generation of possible Death
> Eaters and to evaluate there skills.

That's a very good point.  And, given the state of things during the reign
of terror and the times of uncertainty that followed, it is extremly
important to have Dumbledore in the position where he can watch over the
upcoming generations of witches and wizards, not only to keep an eye out for
standouts at either end of the specturm (good-evil), but to shape the
thoughts and attitiudes of those more "average" candidiates--sort of trying
to keep the pendulum on the good side.

Which brings me to a tangentially related question: if those who complete
Hogwarts then become fully qualified wizards, what about those who do not
get into Hogwarts?  Is there some other way to achieve qualified status in
the magical world?  Clearly there has to be a fairly large subset of
individuals who do not get into Hogwarts (think of Neville's concern that he
might not have been magic enough to get in).  People like Tom, who runs the
Leaky Cauldron, Stan from the Knight Bus and Madam Rosemerta.  Where and how
do they receive their magical education?  Or are their skills innate and
simply honed through a system of practical everyday learning?

>
>
> As for picking faculty members, according to Hagrid Gilderoy Lockhart
> was the only applicant for the position of DADA teacher that year and
> Dumbledore had no choice. I think it's possible that he keeps Sybil
> Trelawney on his staff because she does make true and valuable
> predictions from time to time and he wants to be there to hear them
> and not let her fall into his enemies' hands. Snape is an awful
> teacher, but obviously plays an important part in the fight against
> Voldemort. So maybe Dumbledore lets him run on a long leash. He seems
> a very laid-back kind of leader anyway.

Actually, I don't think Snape is a bad teacher.  He's just a very tough
teacher with a bad attitude.  He's certainly a bad teacher for some
students, but in terms of knowing his stuff and passing his techniques on,
he's pretty good.

>
>
> So far the only teachers we got to know more about are the ones
> somehow involved in fighting Voldemort. The quality of the others'
> lessons is unknown.
> What bothered me was the way Professor McGonagal stood by and let
> Hermione wear herself out by taking on more subjects than she could
> handle in PoA. From an educational point of view that was
> irresponsible.
>

Both Lockhart and Hermione's overwork serve as object lessons for the
student's at Hogwarts.  By  allowing Lockhart to teach and thereby expose
his lack of skills, Dumbledore was able to debunk a false hero in the
wizarding world and to teach the students to be careful of imposters.  The
reason that the lack of a good and consistent DADA teacher is not that
serious of a blow to the Hogwarts curriculum is that the students are
learning about the Dark Arts, their danger and how to resist them, simply as
part of their over all education at the school (see my earlier comment).

As for Hermione, the only way for her to learn about her limitations was for
her to try it her way and live with the consequences.  She would not have
responded well to hearing that she couldn't take that course load because
the teachers felt it too much, she need to learn it for herself.

drpam