Why I Don't Like Hagrid

[Cindy C.]

No: HPFGUIDX 28460

Jenny wrote:

> Third - Okay, I have been avoiding this one for quite some time.  I 
> guess I should fess up and get it all out on the table.  I don't 
like 
> Hagrid - there, it's out.  I find him annoying and irresponsible.  
I 
> hated the way he handled the situation with Norbert and how Ron got 
> hurt and Harry and Hermione got in so much trouble to protect 
Hagrid 
> and his mistake.  I'm not crazy about his drinking, especially when 
> he should be sharp for his CoMC class, not hung over.  I don't 
> appreciate his love of all creatures dangerous.  Those Blast Ended 
> Skrewts were nasty and not tended to well at all.  He also should 
> have known better than to talk to Rita Skeeter, especially because 
he 
> knew she wasn't supposed to be on the grounds of Hogwarts 
> (Dumbledore's orders, no less) to begin with.
> 
> I'm not saying that I think Hagrid is a bad guy; I don't think 
that. 
> I just don't think he should teach at Hogwarts and I think he is 
way 
> too dependent on HRH to help get him out of jams.  He makes bad 
> decisions and when your job is to watch out for KIDS I don't like 
it 
> all.
> 


Jenny,

You'll be surprised that I'm not going offer up either a passioned 
defense of Hagrid (defending Sirius has worn me completely out) or a 
detailed criticism of him either (listing Fleur's faults has drained 
me).  Indeed, your assessment is quite charitable and forgiving, as 
Hagrid also assigned the Monster Book of Monsters because it 
was "funny," he wasted the students' time caring for flobberworms, he 
compromised security surrounding the Sorceror's Stone, among other 
things.

But to the extent that Hagrid's teaching methods (or lack thereof) 
are suspect or negligent, I guess he's hardly better or worse than 
the other teachers we've seen in action.

Madame Hooch -- tells the kids to kick off in their first lesson, 
without any apparent ability to rescue a student (Neville) who can't 
control his broom.  Then, she leaves 19 kids there with unattended 
brooms, which is kind of like leaving 11-year old kids in a car with 
the engine running.  One of them is bound to drive off.

Snape -- kids are sometimes injured in his classes by melting 
cauldrons and exploding potions and such.  Protective gear appears to 
be minimal.

Lockhard -- 'Nuff said.

Moody -- putting unforgivable curses on kids such that they crash 
into tables.

Only McGonagal and Flitwick seem to take adequate precautions to 
prevent mishaps, starting the kids small and working them up to 
bigger things.  So if Hagrid's CoMC class is risky, I guess that's to 
be expected at Hogwarts.

Anyway, I am hoping that Hagrid will show us some reason for 
Dumbledore to have such trust in him, some character trait that we 
haven't seen yet.  And at least Hagrid is nice, unlike a certain half-
veela Triwizard Champion I could name.  :-)

Cindy