Apropos of the Commencement of Sixth Year

[venenum_letalis]

I'm not completely satisfied with either the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher or their curriculum for this year. The homework given has been a bit repetitious of Fifth year, and the new professor seems a bit hesitant to have the students engage in kinesthetic, interpersonal learning. I'm not entirely opposed to essays, seeing as they're

Comments

[bubblegum_toads]

The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor isn't the best. Even I'll admit that.

[venenum_letalis]

I accepted First Year that I would have to become versed by my own instruction and in my own fashion. I don't object. However, for a professor to profess in't asking for much, admittedly.

[bubblegum_toads]

I used to put in extra hours, but there's so much more work for my other classes this year that I haven't had a chance to.

[venenum_letalis]

I suppose it could be difficult for the average student to sharpen an independant system nonpartisan from the mainstream classes.

[luna_servitus]

I do agree with you about the lack of hands-on material in Defense Against the Dark Arts this year. It's curious, given the state of the world lately, that they wouldn't want us to be a bit more prepared. But perhaps they don't want students to try and get involved, thinking they have expertise comparable to a legal wizard... Who knows.

[venenum_letalis]

The best way of knowing how to defend oneself against the Dark Arts is to understand the Dark Arts, themselves. It troubles me to not imagine such a thing as common knowledge.

Some of us do have expertise comparable to a legal wizard. Perhaps even greater. We are certain to hit an era in which earlier generations' recognition of spells will be considered outdated.

[luna_servitus]

You make a good point, but again, the professors are probably concerned about handing us too much knowledge. But that's no excuse, I'll admit, because knowledge may be power, but it's how one applies that power that makes the difference. I like to think Dumbledore is aware of that difference.

[Private to Severus]
Speaking of expertise, the prefects are talking about arranging our own Defense classes...sort of teaching the younger students what some of us already know, since they're not receiving proper instruction in class. I thought you might be interested.
[/private]

[venenum_letalis]

Said professors, then, must recognize the threat of defeat. Knowledge is power, it's true. It's consequential to survival. To think that these teachers are deliberately thwarting the flow of knowledge - which is the antithesis of what they've been hired to do - is quite a scandalous conjecture.

[Private to Remus]
I'm afraid you don't know what you're getting into. I suspect teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts isn't child's play. It requires conviction and ingenuity. Do what you will. Anything you attempt can't be worse than every lunatic coming, failing, and going year after year. However, I don't think I will be assisting, seeing as I'm quite busy with my independent studies, myself.
[/private]