In Defense of Hagrid

[hickengruendler]

No: HPFGUIDX 143870

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <bboyminn at y...> wrote:
>
 
> 
> Let's look carefully at Hagrid. He is, if not uneducted, then at 
least
> under-educated. He is a simple man with definitely no formal 
training
> in teaching methods. 

Hickengruendler:

That's why he shouldn't teach. At least not without some training. 
Actually, you are right that you can hardly blame him. Dumbledore 
either shouldn't have appointed him as a teacher or at least he 
should have somehow helped him.

Steve: 

Dumbledore appoints him as the new Care of
> Magical Creatures professor, but is content to let Hagrid find his 
own
> way in the task. In a sense, I believe Dumbledore to be of the same
> school that I am, he (and I) believe that the lessons you learn best
> are the lessons you teach yourself. Revelation is a far greater
> teacher than explanation.

Hickengruendler:

I can't agree with this. At least not in this special case. Because 
Dumbledore's strategy here endagers the students. It's maybe one 
thing to throw Hagrid in the arena without any guidance, assuming 
that he'll learn from his experiences. But this should never lead to 
any student being endangered. Sorry, but if Dumbledore put Hagrid 
above the students, he simply has his priorities wrong. As the 
Hogwarts headmaster, the students should come first for Dumbledore. 
Hagrid should have some proper training before being let loose on the 
students.
 
Steve:

> Each year we see Hagrid getting better,

Hickengruendler:

IMO, the Skrewts were the absolute low-point. What bothers me here is 
that Hagrid bred them, meaning they probably didn't even exist prior 
to that. Therefore the students had to endure them, just because 
Hagrid experimented a bit with some creatures. He really cannot 
complain that nobody wanted to continue his classes. Who would?    
  
Steve:
> As to the Draco/Hypogriph incident, it was just a cut on his arm. I
> have no doubt that Madame Pomfrey heal it instantly, and that Draco
> milked it for all it was worth. As others have pointed out, it is
> probably Draco's distain and complete disregard for Hargid that lead
> him to NOT PAY ATTENTION to what was clearly an advanced and 
dangerous
> creature. Harry certainly didn't take that attitude. So, in a sense,
> it was really Draco's own lack of interest and attention, and his 
own
> arrogance that got him hurt.

Hickengruendler:

Yes and no. While I agree with you here, that it was to a big part 
Draco's fault, I want to point out, that Draco was 13 at that time, 
and that the whole class was 13 at that time. They were teenagers, 
and it's a fact, that many teenagers don't listen, particularly in 
class. Therefore Hagrid still bears some responsibility for the 
injury, because he cannot expect, that a whole class of 13 year olds 
listens to his instructions. That's why the bigger animals are meant 
for the older students.