Professor Binns

[KathyK]

No: HPFGUIDX 80030

greatelderone asked:

>>Out of curiosity, but does anyone know why Dumbledore keeps 
Professor Binns around?<< 

Myrth answered: 

>I think that history is a subject taught by lecture (IMO the worst 
way to teach). I think if polled most members would say that history 
was the class they liked the least in school. JKR has used teacher 
stereotypes in her books. 
<snip> 
I agree that this is sad. History of Magic is an important class. 
You can not know what is going on in the world without having 
knowledge of the past. So I think Binns is kept to show the 
steotypical boring teacher.<

KathyK, who's had only one history teacher whose class she 
considered boring responds:

I think Dumbledore keeps Professor Binns around because he's not 
going anywhere.  Each year Dumbledore has to scramble to find a new 
DADA teacher.  Why make more work for himself by dumping Binns who 
is a guarantee to be there for as long as he's needed?  

Or maybe Dumbledore would feel badly about letting Professor Binns 
go.  The man died, became a ghost and still wants to teach.  What 
would he do without Hogwarts?  Perhaps Dumbledore just can't bear to 
hurt the ghost's feelings.  After all, he endangered Harry and the 
WW because he cared too much about Harry to tell him the whole truth.

KathyK (the above was a bit tongue-in-cheek if you couldn't tell <g>)