History of Magic

[alt_padma]

is an utter waste of time!!! We'd do just as well to get the books and take it in turns to read aloud to one another, for all the good lessons do.

Why do we have to learn one thing from the books and a whole other thing to write in our essays for Professor Binns? It's so frustrating.

Today we learnt about Roman wizards coming to England with Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Our book says there were about 100 wizards, more or less, and the Emperor revered them and paid them tribute to get them to fight with him. They fought the druids and helped bring the sort of magic we use now into England, and the Emperor helped them until his grandson, who didn't like magic because he didn't have any, started to make things difficult.

But Professor Binns wants us to say that the Romans didn't have wizards in their armies at all, and that they (the Roman wizards) came only after Rome took over and they decided to trade methods and theory with the druids, all without the Muggles knowing about it, and that's why so many spells have Latin, but the wands are all made out of kinds of wood from here.

If the books are wrong, why do we use them? And if Professor Binns is wrong, why do we have to go on learning from him? Why can't we have another teacher and just change classrooms?

(Potions is still really excellent, though. And everything else is fine. And my marks are still really high. I told Morag and Linus I'd revise with them twice a week, but the rest of the time I'm with Sandoval and Johns and the rest. I'm learning ever so much!)

Mum wrote to say they're sending Morrison (that's the mudblood we had this summer) back to the camps. He's finished the shop expansion Mum wanted. I'm not sure what I think. I mean, at first I didn't like having him about at all, but after awhile it wasn't so bad. He wasn't smelly or dirty, except when he'd been working. He was really old, as old as Haruman I guess. and when he took his shirt off I'd almost got used to having him about, but it's not as if we really need him anymore at home. Pity he can't really be with either me or Parvati, to do chores for us here. But he's too old. And he's not Kshatriyan, so it wouldn't be proper.

Maybe we'll get a mudblood who's a little younger, like Malfoy's is, for our birthday next year. That'd be sort of nift.

Comments

[alt_draco]

Hey, that's a good point... why can't they just hire someone else to teach History of Magic in a different room?

Maybe they already tried that and Binns showed up and started talking over the proper professor. I can just see him doing that.

[alt_padma]

We should start having our own History of Magic lessons and see if he shows up.

I know OWLs and NEWTs are the important part, but honestly, it's just so ridiculous to learn things two different ways.

[alt_lana]

Actually, you might be on to something here. You won't have much luck lobbying for a new teacher or an alternative class, but you could form a History interest group to supplement the existing curriculum.

My year did something like this when we were revising for OWLs, but there's no reason you couldn't start sooner if enough of you are interested in the subject. You might do well to write the OWL examiners to ask what topics they would suggest. If you got something like this started, you might even be able to invite some of the examiners to come for a series of speakers' forums on those topics where our curriculum has fallen behind or seems to have gone astray.

Something along these lines would make a very strong initiative, Patil; I'd be happy to lend it my support.

[alt_padma]

Ooh, I bet Finnigan would be interested! He's aces at history and between him and me I'm sure we could do it.

I'll ask him at supper. Thanks!

[alt_padma]

Especially when it's history. I mean that's something that happened, so I don't know how anyone goes about saying it happened differently!

[alt_lana]

I've always thought, myself, that differences in historical explanation invite a student to research and to think for herself, Patil.

It's similar to what your classmate Perks has been saying about the benefit of tutoring weaker students: Professor Binns's shortcomings are really an opportunity for you to refine what you know by testing the evidence against logic and justifications offered on all sides. This is surely how knowledge works. If you can marshal the arguments necessary to rebut Binns's assertions, your own knowledge and analytical skills will be the stronger.

[alt_padma]

I guess I never thought about it quite like that.

But don't you think if they really wanted us to succeed, they'd make sure our teachers teach properly in the first place? The thing is, it's hard to argue with a teacher. Especially one who tells horrible bouncers and then doesn't even really listen to the right answers.

I mean, I understand what you're saying and I'll definitely do the history club thing, since it'll help, but, I dunno, it just seems like there ought to be a way to get rid of a teacher who doesn't teach us right.

[alt_lana]

Yes, well, for whatever reason, no one has seen fit to address the need for this change. Professor Binns has been here for generations, and can't have been any better (or, I suppose, any worse) for the duration. Perhaps the situation would be different if it were Charms or Defence or one of the other top-priority subjects. I suppose, too, that Professor Binns has been here so long that all of the people in charge of making educational policy had him themselves. Perhaps they think it's a rite of passage for us to sit his lessons, too.

The point is that others have tried to make the case you are making, and it's not been addressed. I choose to think that this is not because the situation has gone unconsidered. I trust the Ministry and the school's governors and, above all, our Lord Protector to make appropriate choices for our education. Given that, it seems we have two options: to show initiative and self-direction in making up the deficit we perceive in this area or to whinge about it. One reflects well whilst the other is simply poor form.

[alt_padma]

Well, I didn't mean to be whinging. And I never was going to stop doing the work, both to learn the real history and to sit Professor Binns' lessons.

It's like Capper using her journal to, er, vent. That's what she called it. Saying things in the journal so that you can get on with the rest of it.

[alt_lana]

It's really a matter of self-presentation, I suppose, and we all use our journals differently. And I don't mean that it's wrong to be abrupt or even harsh when that is an effective means to an end, but complaining publicly about this school brings disrepute upon a venerable institution. As a Ravenclaw justifiably proud of her strong marks, you should consider whether your comments might be construed by others as an indication that high marks at Hogwarts do not represent the same high standards of achievement they once did. I don't believe it takes a Slytherin temperament to understand that what you write here may well be read in the wider world, including by those who will one day consider your applications for employment.

Certainly, where there are flaws, we should work to correct them. My efforts this year as Head Girl--an honour and a duty I take very seriously--are devoted to raising standards and burnishing Hogwarts' reputation. That's why I would urge you to pour your energies not into critical words against the school but into solid, constructive action.

I'm not singling you out, Patil. I have said the same to Capper, and will have further words with her if necessary.