History at Hogwarts (was Re: Wizard Persecution )

[mryburge]

No: HPFGUIDX 127146


SSSusan:

> > So my guess would be that Binns is just JKR's giving us a 
> > stereotypical boring history teacher, just as Madam Pince is a 
> > stereotypical severe & shushy librarian, just as Trelawney is a 
> > stereotypical daft & clueless "fortune-teller."  I've NO idea 
why DD 
> > allows Binns and Trelawney to teach if they're really not all 
that 
> > good, but I can't imagine that he would cave to Ministry 
pressure to 
> > teach a watered-down history curriculum, where important but 
> > upsetting facts have been removed to "protect" children's 
> > sensibilities.


I have always been struck less by Binns being a boring teacher, and 
more by what he is teaching each time JKR mentions him - wars!  
(Goblin rebellions, Giant war, Giant rebellion).  Through the most 
boring teacher at school, JKR subtly reinforces that the 
magical "creatures" kept under control by the Ministry of Magic 
don't LIKE their situation, and the WW's treatment of them has 
caused huge problems in the past.  Harry's befriending of, and by, 
all sorts of magical creatures (house elves, centaurs, werewolves, 
1/2 giants, etc.) is striking in contrast to the rest of the WW's 
treatment.

"mryburge"