[HPforGrownups] Hagrid and Draco

[Magpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 166183

Geoff:
Hagrid is enthusiastic and has expertise. That we
know. He was always very keen to tell individuals and
classes about the various creatures to which they were
introduced and, as has been observed in this discussion,
he has the expertise to look after the handling and
welfare of these different beasts.

<snip>

After Harry's flight, the remaining students go into the
paddock and approach the animals but, of course, Draco
allows himself to think that it is easy because Harry
succeeded and thus heignores Hagrid's warning about
insulting them.

Magpie:
Right. Hagrid is enthusiastic but doesn't really seem to get a big part of 
his job as a teacher, which is not just talking about the animals he loves 
with kids who love them, but controlling a lot of kids. Some of this is the 
kind of thing you can probably only get from experience. Given the choice 
between Hagrid who knows animals so much and Lupin who doesn't, I'd choose 
Lupin as a teacher, because he's the better teacher, as long as he can stay 
a step ahead of the class. Personally, I've always been intimidated by the 
mere thought of teaching because for me, this is what it seems to all be 
about!

One extra thing I would add to Hagrid's problem is that Draco quite possibly 
isn't *ignoring* his instruction, which would be intentionally dangerous and 
I don't think he believes he's taking that risk. He possibly didn't hear it 
because Hagrid said it in the beginning in a moment when Draco wasn't 
listening. I would agree with Betsy's earlier post about horses there--very 
often when discussing Hagrid people will refer to their own lessons with 
horses and how well they learned safety, and surely they all learned these 
lessons so well not because they were smart but because anyone working with 
kids and animals stresses safety--unless they, too, got attacked. Hagrid 
doesn't, because he doesn't understand the danger.

I think JKR is well aware of this. Years later when Hagrid is no longer a 
new, inexperienced teacher and has settled into being just one more quirky 
Hogwarts professor the kids have made a negative judgment on, still showing 
the same kind of carelessless and disconnect with the class. (He also still 
doesn't deal well with being challenged etc.)

I think JKR has stressed this in the text. Not only does every member of the 
Trio make references to Hagrid's careless attitude with dangerous attitudes, 
I was just today re-reading CoS Chapter six (I do one a week). This is when 
the kids are first shown the Mandrakes. Sprout is a competent teacher 
introducing dangerous plants. The kids have spent an entire year in 
Greenhouse 1, and only in second year visit the more dangerous plants in 3. 
Going from memory, Sprout starts off asking questions about what Mandrakes 
are and why they are dangerous. Once she's established their cry is deadly, 
she tells everyone to put on their earmuffs, taking care to tell them to 
make sure their ears are covered. She says only when she gives them the 
signal should they take them off. Then she demonstrates with the Mandrakes.

Then she reveals that these Mandrakes are not yet deadly, but tells them 
*again* to be sure their earmuffs are covering their ears completely, and 
explains exactly what will happen if they don't--days in the infirmary.

It's a quick scene, but I think JKR is subtly and smoothly establishing 
Sprout as a good teacher for all these reasons. An author isn't going to 
repeat things unnecessarily, but she intentionally has Sprout repeat herself 
and concentrate on safety, I think because it's just natural to how it's 
done.

I'm sure had a student like Draco been in the class he would still be 
arrogant, he might still want to show Harry up, but I doubt he'd be whipping 
off his earmuffs and knocking himself out by accident.

-m