[HPforGrownups] Re: DADA's never-lasting teachers

[eloiseherisson at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 43639

Gabrielle:
> I think Perhaps my point was lost. What I was really concerned about 
> was the importance of DADA at Hogwarts. Potions and Transfiguration 
> are no doubt difficult forms of magic, but DADA is as well. I would 
> think that they could find some teacher that's more competent at 
> Potions or Transfiguration, then a few of the DADA teachers we've 
> seen. Is DADA not as important to the WW? It seems we often find 
> wizards (cough cough FUDGE!) who would rather look the other way, 
> than put up a defense. Is this something learned by experience at 
> Hogwarts?
> 

To be fair, Dumbledore appointed someone pretty competent last time, only he 
was prevented from taking up his position!

Hagrid explains that people aren't *willing* to take on the job, as they 
think it's jinxed, so Dumbledore has a limited choice.

We have no evidence that Quirrell wasn't competent before his trip abroad. In 
fact, given the way he deals with trolls and his ability to get through the 
enchantments guarding the Stone, he's very competent.
I'm not getting into the vexed question of whether or not he taught at 
Hogwarts before he met Voldemort, but even if he didn't, his reputation was 
not, presumably of the trembling man he pretends to be (Voldemort implies he 
was either already teaching, or appointed, before he found him).

Lupin, as you point out was also competent and Lockhart only revealed himself 
to be a charlatan *through* his taking up of a teaching position.

One of the problems is that with so few (apparently) schools of Wizardry, 
there isn't a pool of competent *teachers* with previous teaching experience 
and references on which to draw.

And as far as all the teachers are concerned, Dumbledore seems to have a 
pretty laissez-faire attitude. He's not concerned by Binns boring his class 
to sleep or by Snape's bullying tactics. He seems to regard Trelawney as a 
bit of a charlatan, but lets her get on with it.

Eloise


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