Dumbledore's NOT an idiot...

[jenny_ravenclaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 33798

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Terri Lyn Layman" <terrilyn at a...> wrote:
 
> He has a non-graduate teaching a seemingly importaint course.  Now, 
unless I'm mistaken, there seems to be no framework whereby Hagrid 
could get equivelent owls/newts.  But, if there is, why hasn't 
Dumbledore had him take them?>

It could be very hard to hire teachers at Hogwarts.  Here in NYC we 
are dealing with a major teaching shortage and finding new, qualified, 
licensed and good teachers is, unfortunately, a rarity (I teach in 
the south Bronx so I get to see the problem up close).  Hogwarts' pay 
may not be good and many qualified candidates may not want to live 
away from their families for ten months out of the year.  We also know 
that Dumbledore and Hagrid have a special relationship and Dumbledore 
was giving Hagrid a chance.  While I agree that Hagrid is incompetent, 
I love Dumbledore for giving him a chance.  He gave Lupin a chance 
too, and he was truly an excellent teacher.
 
> I guess this isn't overly cohereant, but I'm just looking at D'dore 
and comparing him to the president of my university.  I know that if 
the head of Purdue acted like D'dore, that he would be asked to 
reevaluate his desire to continue in his position.>

I think Dumbledore is a super administrator.  I can't stand 
administrators who are in everyone's face all the time.  Just because 
Dumbledore doesn't know every little thing that goes on in his school 
doesn't mean he isn't doing a good job.  I think my administrators are 
great, but they aren't every where all the time.  Besides, I think 
there are plenty of things Dumbledore does know about but chooses to 
leave alone, which is fine.  He has a hands-off policy with the kids, 
too, which I like, because he is encouraging them to be independent 
and to learn lessons on their own.  I think that's the best way (it 
certainly was for me).  Yes, there are times when things slip through, 
but Dumbledore isn't a god.  How could he have possibly known that the 
Triwizard Cup was a portkey?  Or that Scabbers was really Peter 
Pettigrew?  These are all wizards we're talking about; the 
possiblities to be trickes are seemingly endless.

As far as complaints about teachers, I don't see too many people, save 
Lucius Malfoy, approaching Dumbledore.  Many kids, like Neville, 
choose to suffer in silence and Dumbledore does give off an air of 
being unapproachable, even though he is really the opposite.  Hey, it 
took Harry some 600 pages to approach Dumbledore about something as 
serious as his scar hurting while dreaming about Voldemort; I don't 
imagine that too many other students want to go running to Dumbledore 
for their problems.

What I think makes Dumbledore so super is his compassion, intelligence 
and power.  I feel as Harry does; when Dumbledore comes in, I feel a 
bit safer too.  Dumbledore knows his stuff, or at least knows what is 
important.  He is also known to be extremely powerful and is feared by 
Voldemort.  He defeated a previous dark wizard.  He is also running 
what is known to be one of the best schools for witchcraft and 
wizardry around.

I'd say Dumbledore's positives far outweigh his negatives.

--jenny from ravenclaw, who'd work for Dumbledore as a House Elf if 
she had the chance ********