Trelawny

[Risti]

No: HPFGUIDX 53542


> Cathy:  I suspect that *true* seers *are* extremely rare, and that 
their> gift is inate more than learned.  I believe that her first 
*real* prediction> was something that was useful enough that it was 
worth keeping her around in
> case she made another, and that since there is a book for teaching
> Divination, she couldn't do a worse job than anyone else would be 
able to.
> I also think keeping her around may have been also another of 
life's lesson
> for the students.  There has already been discussion that one of 
the reasons
> that Snape is kept around is that the students need to learn to 
deal with
> people like him in the real world.  The same can be said for 
Trelawny -
> there are always people who claim to be more than they really are 
(for
> instance, Lockhart).  Some of the students come to realize this, 
some don't.
> In any case, I think it would be much more frightening to have a 
Divination
> teacher who was a true seer who's predictions came true most of the 
time.
> It is just unfortunate for Harry that he's the most logical choice 
for
> Trelawny's death prophicies.

I agree with you on some points.  I do think that Trelawney's first 
prediction was big enough to keep her around, but I have a couple of 
other thoughts for why she might be kept there.  Could it be that 
she's better off in Hogwarts, then roving around on the streets?  I 
mean, she's probably spout off her predictions to every person she 
met or passed by, and who'd want to take the chance that one of her 
few correct predictions could be witnessed by a passerby who doesn't 
even recognize it.

I'm also reminded of something from the movie Finding Forrester, 
which I think could be implied here.  There is an English teacher, 
who as the movie is develops, you find out was an aspiring writer, 
who never really made it.  It was suggested that most English 
teachers, who are supposed to be teaching their pupils how to write, 
can't really do it themselves.  My point?  You don't necessarily have 
to be good at the practical to spew off the theories.  That kind of 
person may not be the best teacher out there, but it certainly is a 
common kind.  How many science teachers could practice what they 
teach?  Math teachers who could actually prove some of the theories 
they make their students memorize?  Of course, the best teachers are 
the ones who can, but usually if they can, they don't teach.

~Risti