Academic dishonesty (was "Apologies and responsibility")

[finwitch]

No: HPFGUIDX 139437

"Matt" wrote:
 
> I'm not sure I agree with that conclusion, but let's bring the 
example
> in line with the situation in HBP: Not an older sibling's book, but 
a
> secondhand book with scribbles in the margin.  I used many 
secondhand
> books in my day, and it never would have occurred to me to cite the
> unknown author if my reading of the text had been colored by the
> marginal notes --
>Do the "talented" potionmakers in
> the class actually understand what they are doing, or are they 
simply
> following instructions?  Does Harry -- presented with the contrast
> between the textbook instructions and Snape's -- understand things 
any
> better than the rest of the class, or is he, too, simply following
> instructions?

Finwitch:

You know -- as Harry's not a book-learner, nor one who strives to 
understand theory. He's one who learns best in pracical view, by 
intuition etc. as well as extremely lucky where it counts... he 
appreciates and values Hermione for knowledge, cleverness and 
understanding of their subjects, but theory is not for Harry.

You know, particularly now that they ARE learning how to do magic 
without incantation at all - remembering Hermione instructing Ron how 
to properly pronounce the Wingardium Leviosa they had to be doing... 
I don't think the incantation *really* mattered. It's just that - 
putting high emphasis to the incantation said in exactly the correct 
accent, waving a wand in exactly correct method during the early 
years of learning - prevents the early failure from destroying belief 
and confidence, both of which are more or less vital for the 
controlled magic they're teaching - or correct set of mind.

The magical mind needs to be taught subtly - very subtly. In both 
Neville and Merope we've seen what *confidence* means for 
spellcasting, by showing the lack of it applied to spells. We've seen 
how Ron, despite of failing to levitate a feather in class, succeed 
in levitating a Troll's Club with that same spell. Why? Because when 
that Troll's about to kill him, he's definately NOT thinking whether 
or not he can do it, only about DOING it. And of course, after he's 
done that, he KNOWS he can.

Just like Harry's Patronus. He could cast it, with the timeturner 
helping him to realize that he really CAN do it, right here and now...
As for Harry's potions - well, I think his intuition - possibly what 
he had learned from Tom Riddle/his parents earlier, when very young 
but suppressed due to Dursleys - that in a way, Harry's only 
remembering what he's always known. In addition, I'd say that Harry 
looking at the notes merely allows him an excuse to access knowledge 
within that he's had for quite some time. If, for instance, he had 
remembered his mother brewing that potion -- he'd still have another 
recipe, another knowledge...
 
Finwitch