[HPforGrownups] Re: Harry's Grades/Talent, WAS: Snape thoughts of Harry

[Laura Lynn Walsh]

No: HPFGUIDX 177213


On 2007, Sep 19, , at 05:07, Katie wrote:

> ***Katie:
>
>  So, based on his OWLs
> alone, I would say Harry is an above average student - not because of
> his dedication to schoolwork, but because of an innate intelligence
> that helps him to get through.

This is one thing that has surprised me about the commentary on
Harry's schoolwork (it has come up before).  People think that
Harry is somewhat lacking in his dedication to his school work.
But, from what I can tell, he is actually quite dedicated to his
school work.  Frequently, he, Ron, and Hermione are the last
people left in the common room and they are working on their
homework.

The fact that he goofs off in a class that is basically fraudulent
(divinations) is understandable.  It is hard to work hard if you
think a subject is completely invalid.  And who hasn't ignored
a subject that is taught in such a boring manner as to be
completely without interest (history of magic).  At one point,
Harry even remarks that he thinks it could have been interesting,
except for the way Binns taught it.

It is true that they are not working on their homework 100% of
the time.  They DO have other distractions that are more
important to them (and more interesting to read about), but
they seem to spend a lot of time on it - more so than quite a
few other students.  If they struggle with some of the spells and
charms and potions and whatever, it doesn't mean that they
are not so good at them, it could mean that they are simply
really, truly difficult.  That seems to be a concept that is hard
for some American students to comprehend.  It is OK to struggle
to get something that is really difficult.

I am a substitute teacher and I see many students, who seem
to think that if anything is remotely difficult, they just don't have
to do it.  Just complain to the teacher that they didn't get it and
the teacher will re-teach it over and over again - thus sparing
them from getting more work, and even more difficult content.

It seems to me that Harry really is an above average student.
He isn't as brilliant as Hermione, but students that intelligent
are rare.  Kids generally choose friends who are fairly similar
to them in intelligence and I think this is the case here.

Laura
-- 
Laura Lynn Walsh    lwalsh at acsalaska.net
http://llwcontemplations.blogspot.com



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