Hogwarts Teaching Qualifications

[lizcrosssmith]

No: HPFGUIDX 69554

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "karenlyall666" 
<karen.lyall at b...> wrote:
<<big snip>>
> > So, what qualifications do we expect in our teaching staff?
<<big snip>> 
> > Binns - he's a ghost and was old when he died therefore he's 
probably 
> a history lesson all in himself!> 
> karenlyall666

Intersting question.  I was thinking, while flying home from Phoenix 
yesterday, about Professor Binns.  Or more precisely how he -- in 
his own dead way -- kills history of magic.  I was wondering why DD 
would keep him on.  I expect some other Headmaster hired him 
(Phineas N. as a cruel joke on the students?).  But now DD is in 
charge and has been for a number of years.  He considered not 
teaching Divination because he thought it a waste of time.  Well, 
history should certainly not be considered a waste of time, but it 
is with Binns teaching.  So, the other half of your question is:

How bad would you have to be before DD would fire you?

Hagrid, for example.  I mean, I love Hagrid, but as a teacher he's a 
bit sub par.  I mean, he had an excellent chance to make a really 
good point with the Monster Book of Monsters.  I really thought he 
was going to, but then . . . nothing.  All the pointless time spent 
with Flobberworms and Blast-Ended Skrewts!  But then, Hagrid is a 
friend.

Binns, though, why not find an energetic teacher to bring history 
alive to the kids?  Why not have someone who can help them see the 
connections between what was, what is and what could be?  DD 
understands the importance of the connections in history.  (We know 
this because he looks for signs based on both his understanding of 
Lord Thingy and history.)  So my questions is how could our bright, 
perceptive and kindly DD let this go on?

Yes, it was a long flight from Phoenix with not a whole lot to 
do . . .

Liz