[HPforGrownups] Dumbledore as Headmaster

[Christina Gross]

No: HPFGUIDX 2472

On 28.09.2000 at 14:34:24 Pam Hugonnet wrote:

>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?  

The way I understood it if you don't get into Hogwarts it means that
you don't have the magical potential to become a fully qualified
wizard. The only example we have met in person so far in the books is
Argus Filch. Others seem to make their way in the Muggle world like
the Weasley uncle who became an accountant.
Was it said in the books that Stan Shunpike, Tom or Madam Rosmerta
have never been to Hogwarts? I took them only as examples that not
all the Hogwarts alumni go on to work for the Ministry or Gringotts.

>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.

He sure knows his stuff. As for passing on his techniques I'm not so
sure about that. Hermione was an excellent student from day one. She
certainly profits from Snape's lessons, but she doesn't give him much
opportunity to put her down. Neville would certainly have a thing or
two to say about Snape's abilities as a teacher. You don't learn much
if your teacher does nothing but humiliate you and the mere thought
of him makes you sick with fear like the thought of my math teacher
in 8th grade, may he rot in a dark and deep place. 

>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.  

That seemed to be a welcome by-product, but I doubt that was what he
was hired for. The students learned a lesson for life, but also had a
lot of catching up to do with Lupin and Moody.

>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.

You have a point here. Still I think Hogwarts goes a bit far in their
"If it doesn't kill the students it will make them stronger" approach.

Greetings
Christina

 "Dogs come when they're called; cats take a message
 and get back to you later." - Mary Bly

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