Teacher stereotypes (love them!)

[jjpandy]

No: HPFGUIDX 84804

As a teacher myself, I love JKR's uses of teacher stereotypes to 
create a balanced school faculty.  McGonagal is the strict, but fair 
teacher.  Snape is mean and plays favorites.  Binn is dull and 
monotonous.  Flitwick, Hooch and Sprout are good teachers, probably 
remembered fondly by those students who favored those particular 
subjects.  Lupin was kind, knowledgable, and respected (except by 
Slytherins). Mad-eye Moody (or who we thought was Moody)was scary, 
yet entertaining at the same time. Dumbledore is the beloved 
Headmaster/Principal. Hagrid is the first-time teacher whose heart is 
in the right place even if his lesson-planning skills need work. 

The creation of Umbridge's character and role in Book 5 brought the 
Harry Potter books closer to reality for me.  As a teacher, I loved 
every scene where Umbridge was interacting with another teacher.  My 
favorite scene being the observation of McGonagal's class.  Three 
cheers for McGonagal!!!  In previous books, JKR let the Hogwarts 
teachers be very real in their comments and reactions:  their looks 
and comments towards Lockhart because they saw him as a "fake" or at 
least as a "show-off", McGonagol's remarks to Trelawney, Snape's 
observations of Lupin when he subbed for him (easy grader, 
unorganized because there was no record of lessons covered).  I find 
the teaching staff at Hogwarts to be very believable.  And I cheered 
for them as they showed their rebellion against Umbridge by letting 
student behavior get out of control.


As a recent member, I have found that this message-group has turned 
my computer into my Mirror of Erised:  I find myself sitting in front 
of it for hours on end just as Harry sat in front of the mirror.  
Although no Dumbledore will remove my computer to a hidden location, 
how I wish I had Hermione's Time-Turner!

-JJPandy