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Would you let your kids attend Hogwarts?

By January 30, 2017March 12th, 20184 Comments

Would you let your kids attend Hogwarts?

Warning: this post may contain spoilers. If you haven’t read the books, go do that now and then come back to this post later. 

Let’s just put it out there. Hogwarts is probably a terrible place to send your kids. It’s dangerous, and I’m not just talking about the basilisks, trolls, and dementers. It’s also the changing staircases, underage liquor, and quidditch — a game that doesn’t seem to follow any kind of concussion protocol.

It’s also the home of some of the worst teachers ever. The always arrogant Lockhart and the cruel and vile Umbridge. I mean, one of the professors is a dead guy whose lectures make you wish you were in Ferris Beuller’s classroom. (Anyone? Anyone?) Not to mention the professors who actually wanted to murder Harry, like Quirrel and Bartey Crouch Jr.

Suddenly grizzly bears don’t sound so scary!

But if Hogwarts is so bad, why is it that we all secretly hoped for an owl inviting us to the Hogwarts Express? Part of it is the magic and the castle and the quidditch matches, and even the characters we’ve grown to love. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Luna, Neville.

It’s also the professors who remind us of our favorite teachers, the ones who made learning epic, where learning sometimes felt like magic.

But which professor was actually the best teacher?

We’re going to be exploring this question with a look at the top seven best teachers at Hogwarts. Expect a new post each day this week as we count down from #7 to #1.

 

John Spencer

My goal is simple. I want to make something each day. Sometimes I make things. Sometimes I make a difference. On a good day, I get to do both.More about me

4 Comments

  • Angie Moore says:

    I think the best teacher is Remus Lupin for so many reasons. Caring and understanding and actually taught them useful skills.
    Others are Hagrid, Professor Sprout, and Professor McGonagall.

  • Love this provocation! (except I am particularly sensitive to the concussion protocol comment right now!) I think this would make a great inclusion activity in a staff meeting as it really unpacks what we value and define as a “great” teacher. I think it would be great to ask students too; I would have them look at excerpts from the movie to extrapolate some of the ideas since not everyone knows the stories very well…
    Although I can’t think of 7 off the top of my head, Remus Lupin needs to be somewhere on the top of the list.
    – He understands personal struggle and thus is far more empathetic to student struggles which we can see in his interactions with Neville and in his fierce protection of Harry.
    – In one scene I recall him adding music to a lesson which shows the extent to which he engages and inspires students.
    -He knows his subject well and is passionate about it and teaching
    -He teaches with humour and his students are actually having fun battling “boggarts”
    -rather than discourage Harry when he attempts something (Petronis) that may be beyond his ability, he instead helps him to succeed by giving him personalized attention and encourages him

    As always your creativity is inspiring. Thanks for this trip down Harry Potter memory lane!

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