Trelawney / Incompetent teachers at Hogwarts

[Josh Warren]

No: HPFGUIDX 110581

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "bciss1" <bccissell at h...> wrote:
> macfotuk at y... wrote:
> So, maybe DD kept Trelawny to keep her safe from the DE; maybe he 
> is just extremely soft-hearted and loves to take in strays; or 
> maybe he doesn't think Divination is a useful subject and so who 
> cares if the teacher is any good?.

Actually, Dumbledore admits to as much in OotP when describing the 
interview. He didn't want to hire a teacher for Divination, but 
granted the interview as a courtesy to the woman's true-Seer 
ancestory. The Prophesy made him want to keep Trewalny safe and under 
his eye, so that if there were any additional prophesies, he might 
have access to them and better prevent their content from 
eavesdroppers.

McGonnigal, Flitwick, Sprout, and other background teachers do know 
their stuff at least... It is very tough to explain away why Binns 
and Hagrid are left on/hired, but perhaps it has something to do with 
a lack of applicants, or who the other applicants were? The rest are 
easily explained. The DADA position is impossible to fill. Lockhart 
was the only applicant for CoS, Lupin and Moody were special 
requests, and Umbridge got appointed because DD couldn't find 
_anybody_ willing to take the job. Trewalny and Snape (latter knows 
his stuff, too) are tolerated for anti-LV reasons.

Josh