 
Gryffindor House Head:
Professor Minerva McGonagall Colors: red and gold Animal: lion Founded by: Godric Gryffindor Ghost: Sir Nicholas deMimsy-Porpington ( "Nearly Headless Nick") Characteristics: Gryffindors are known for their courage Location: Gryffindor
Tower, entrance on the seventh floor
The entrance is located behind a large painting of a Fat Lady in a pink silk
dress. If you know the right password to tell her, she swings open to reveal a round opening in the wall. The common room contains a lot of
squashy armchairs, a fireplace, and tables. The fireplace is connected to the Floo Network, but as it is extremely public
except in the dead of night, Gryffindors usually use owls to communicate with their families instead. There's also a notice
board, for public announcements such as the date of the next Hogsmeade weekend, but also for notices from individual students
seeking to buy or sell secondhand books, or trade Chocolate Frog cards, or similar, as in any school.
There are two
staircases opening off the common room into the Tower itself: the boys' staircase, on which the seven boys' dormitories are
located (one for each year) and the girls' staircase, on which the seven girls' dormitories are located (one for each year).
The girls' staircase is under a spell so that if a boy sets foot on it and persists for a few steps, a wailing klaxon goes
off and the staircase temporarily Transfigures itself into a stone slide, sending him and anyone else on the stairs sailing
to the bottom. According to Hogwarts, A History, the founders believed that girls were more trustworthy than boys,
so that while the girls' staircase is enchanted to prevent boys from getting in, the boys' staircase does not carry a reciprocal
enchantment (OP). Each dormitory is a round room with windows looking out onto the grounds, and containing four-poster beds.
Gryffindor Quidditch team
The Gryffindor team won the Quidditch Cup during the 1993 - 94 season - the first time since 1984 - and again
during the 1995 - 96 season. They wear robes of scarlet.
Known Gryffindors, past and present
For each known Gryffindor below, his or her name is given (with a link to the appropriate entry in the Wizards' List),
together with the years he or she was a student in Gryffindor. See the individual students' entries for more information (such
as the references for how we know that they're Gryffindors and what years they were in).
- Abercrombie, Euan (1995 - 2002)
- Bell, Katie (1989 - 1996) (SS)
- Black, Sirius (1971 - 1978) [verified in OP that he was in the same house as James]
- Brown, Lavender (1991 - 1998) (SS7)
- Creevey, Colin (1992 - 1999)
- Creevey, Dennis (1994 - 2001)
- Dumbledore, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian (c. 1851 - 1858)
- Evans, Lily (1971 - 1978)
- Finnigan, Seamus (1991 - 1998) (SS7)
- Frobisher, Victoria (Vicky) (1990s) (OP)
- Granger, Hermione (1991 - 1998) (SS7)
- Hagrid, Rubeus (1940 - expelled 1943) (BN)
- Hooper, Geoffrey (1990s) (OP)
- Johnson, Angelina (1989 - 1996)
- Jordan, Lee (1989 - 1996)
- Kirke, Andrew (1990s)
- Longbottom, Neville (1991 - 1998) (SS7)
- Lupin, Remus (1971-1978) [verified in OP that he was in the same house as James]
- MacDonald, Natalie (1994 - 2001)
- McGonagall, Minerva (1931 -1938) (Sch2)
- Patil, Parvati (1991) (SS)
- Pettigrew, Peter (1971-1978) (likely, but not certain)
- Potter, Harry (1991 - 1998) (SS7)
- Potter, James (1971 - 1978) (Sch2)
- Sloper, Jack (1990s) (OP)
- Spinnet, Alicia (1989 - 1996) (SS)
- Stimpson, Patricia (1989 - 1996) (OP, probably Gryffindor)
- Thomas, Dean (1991 - 1998) (SS)
- Towler, Kenneth (1989 - 1996) (OP, probably Gryffindor)
- Weasley, Arthur (years unknown)
- Weasley, Bill (years unknown) (GF)
- Weasley, Charlie (years unknown) (SS)
- Weasley, Fred (1989 - 1996) (SS)
- Weasley, George (1989 - 1996) (SS)
- Weasley, Ginny (1992 - 1999) (CS)
- (Weasley), Molly (years unknown) (GF)
- Weasley, Percy Ignatius (1987 - 1994) (SS)
- Weasley, Ronald "Ron" (1991 - 1998) (SS7)
- Wood, Oliver (1987 - 1994)
Possible Gryffindors (not canon)
Two Unidentified Gryffindor Girls This intriguing piece of deduction was done by Jeralyn, the Voicelady on HP4GU. She writes:
The standard wisdom among fans is that if Hermione, Lavender, and Parvati had another roommate, we would have heard
SOMETHING about her by now.
Actually, I have figured out that there are two more Gryffindor girls in their
year that we haven't been introduced to yet.
I've been rereading PA...(a)nd the scene with Lupin and the boggart in
the wardrobe is very telling. Lupin wants all the students to have a go, and the scene runs as follows:
- Neville - Snape in Gran's dress and hat
- Parvati - the mummy
- Seamus - the banshee
- unidentified female student - rat
- unidentified female student - rattlesnake
- unidentified female student - eyeball
- Dean - hand
- Ron - spider
Then Lupin calls it back before Harry has
to deal with it, and sends it to Neville to finish it off. Harry and Hermione didn't have to work with it, because they answered
the questions correctly at the beginning of the class.
Now we know that Lavender was one of those unidentifed students.
We also know that there are definitely only five boys in Harry's dorm room, so that's how I knew that the two remaining students
were girls.
Ta-da
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw
If you've a ready mind Where those of wit and learning Will always find
their kind.
Common room location: Ravenclaw Tower, which is located
on the west side of the castle (OP18)
Ravenclaw Quidditch team blue robes
Known Ravenclaws, Past and Present:
For each known Ravenclaw below, his or her name is given (with a
link to the appropriate entry in the Wizards' List), together with the years he or she was a student in Ravenclaw. See the
individual students' entries for more information (such as the references for how we know that they're Ravenclaws and what
years they were in).
- Ackerley, Stewart (1994 - 2001)
- Boot, Terry (1991 - 1998)
- Bradley (1990s)
- Brocklehurst, Mandy (1991 - 1998)`
- Chambers (1990's)
- Chang, Cho (1990 - 1997)
- Clearwater, Penelope (1988? - 1995)
- Corner, Michael (1991 - 1998) [1]
- Cornfoot, Stephen (1991 - 1998) (appears in HPM but not so far
in books)
- Davies, Roger (1990s)
- Edgecombe, Marietta (1990 - 1998) (very likely the same year as her friend Cho Chang)
- Entwhistle, Kevin (1991 - 1998) (appears in HPM but not so far
in books)
- Fawcett, S. (1990s)
- Goldstein, Anthony (1991 - 1998) [1]
- Li, Su (1991 - 1998) (HPM)
- Lovegood, Luna (1992 - 1999) (OP)
- McDougal, Morag (1991 - 1998) (HPM)
- Patil, Padma (1991 - 1998) (GF)
- Quirke, Orla (1994 - 2001)
- Turpin, Lisa (1991 - 1998) (SS7)
Hufflepuff House
Head: Professor Pomona Sprout Founder: Helga Hufflepuff Colors: yellow and black Animal: badger Ghost: The Fat Friar Sorting Hat's description:
These belong in Hufflepuff, Where they are just and loyal. Those patient Hufflepuffs
are true And unafraid of toil.
Common room location: unknown, but down a staircase off the main hall. Cellar-like in appearance
(JKR).
Hufflepuff Quidditch team Cedric Diggory, captain and seeker (1993-95) Zacharias Smith,
Chaser (1995-6)
Known Hufflepuffs, Past and Present
For each known Hufflepuff below, his or her name is given (with a link to the appropriate entry in
the Wizards' List), together with the years he or she was a student in Hufflepuff, and the specific reference which verified
the membership.
- The Fat Friar (years unknown) (SS7)
- Abbott, Hannah (1991 - 1998) (SS7)
- Bones, Susan (1991 - 1998) (SS7)
- Branstone, Elenor (1994 - 2001) (GF)
- Cauldwell, Owen (1994 - 2001) (GF)
- Diggory, Cedric (1988 - 1995) (PA)
- Finch-Fletchley, Justin (1991 - 1998) (SS7)
- Hopkins, Wayne (1991 - 1998) (HPM)
- Jones, Megan (1991 - 1998) (HPM)
- Macmillan, Ernie (1991 - 1998) (SS7)
- Madley, Laura (1994 - 2001) (GF)
- Smith, Zacharias (1990s) (OP26)
- Stebbins (male) (1990s) (GF23)
- Summers (male) (1990s)
- Summerby (male) (1990s) (OP26)
- Whitby, Kevin (1994 - 2001) (GF)
Slytherin House Head: Professor Severus Snape Founder: Salazar Slytherin Colors: green and silver Animal: serpent, signifying the founder's gift of Parseltongue
(CS) Ghost: The Bloody Baron (SS7) Location: The Slytherin common room is a low-ceilinged, dungeon-like room with greenish
lamps and chairs. It is located under the lake [1].
Sorting Hat description: (SS7)
Or perhaps in Slytherin You'll make your real friends Those cunning
folk use any means To achieve their ends.
Slytherin Quidditch team green robes players chosen more for size than finesse or skill, it seems all fly on Nimbus
2001s
Known Slytherins, past and present
For each known Slytherin below, his or her name is given (with a link to the appropriate entry in the
Wizards' List), together with the years he or she was a student in Slytherin. See the individual students' entries for more
detailed information (such as the references for how we know that they're Slytherins and what years they were in).
- Avery (c. 1970s)
- Baddock, Malcolm (1994 - 2001)
- Black, Bellatrix (c. 1970s)
- Black, Narcissa (c. 1965 - 1972)
- Black, Phineas Nigellus (unknown, but prior to the 19th century?)
- Bletchley, Miles
- Bole (1989 - 1995)
- Bulstrode, Millicent (1991 - 1998)
- Crabbe, Vincent (1991 - 1998)
- Davis, Tracey (witch) (1991-1998) (HPM)
- Derrick (1989 - 1995)
- Flint, Marcus (1986 - 1994)
- Goyle, Gregory (1991 - 1998)
- Greengrass, Daphne (1991 - 1998) (HPM, OP31)
- Higgs, Terence
- Lestrange, Rudolphus (c. 1970s)
- Lestrange, Rastaban (c. 1970s)
- Malfoy, Draco (1991)
- Malfoy, Lucius (1965 - 1972)
- Montague
- Nott, Theodore (1991 - 1998)
- Parkinson, Pansy (1991 - 1998)
- Pritchard, Graham (1994 - 2001)
- Pucey, Adrian (c.1989 - 1996 or 1997)
- Riddle, Tom Marvolo (1936-1943) (or is it 1938?) became Lord Voldemort
- Rosier, Evan (c. 1970s)
- Snape, Severus (c. 1970s)
- Voldemort (see Riddle, Tom Marvolo)
- Warrington, C. (1989? - 1996)
- Wilkes (c. 1970s)
- Zabini, Blaise (1991 - 1998)
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Hogwarts was created by four of the greatest wizards!!
Godric Gryffindor
Rowena Ravenclaw
Helga Hufflepuff
Salazard Slytherin
Hogwarts Ghosts
"I am neither here nor there..." -- Nearly Headless Nick
essay: Hogwarts Ghosts by Mike Gray
There are at least twenty ghosts at Hogwarts (PS7). When ghost-related decisions must be made, they hold a "ghost's council" (GF12) The ghosts are pearly white (except Peeves) and glow (PA9) Ghosts communicate with each other by ghostly letters. Nearly Headless Nick received one from
Sir Patrick of the Headless Hunt. He must have used something of that sort to invite people to his deathday party, too. (CS8) Only wizards can become ghosts (OP38)

known ghosts of Hogwarts:
Nearly Headless Nick (Gryffindor ghost) (PS7, CS)
The Bloody Baron (Slytherin ghost) The Bloody Baron is a grim, silent, terrifying fellow who
is covered with bloodstains. He is never heard to speak, although Harry does impersonate him once, using a hoarse whisper
(PS16). No one is quite sure about the source of the bloodstains [1], and no one dares ask. Peeves, who respects the Baron for some unknown reason, calls him "Your Bloodiness" and "Mr. Baron."
In the film, the Bloody Baron is inexplicably depicted as rather frilly and goofy, not
at all like the character in the books. (PS/f)
The Fat Friar (Hufflepuff ghost) Was once a Hufflepuff, now is their resident ghost. He is
a jolly, friendly ghost who cheerfully wishes the first years good day and hopes they'll be in Hufflepuff (PS7).
Moaning Myrtle Myrtle haunts a girls' bathroom on the second floor. She does leave the
bathroom once in a while. For example, she sometimes turns up in the Prefects' Bathroom. She occasionally gets flushed out
of the castle with the contents of a toilet and has floated around in the Lake.
Peeves the poltergeist Many of the ghosts do no consider Peeves to be a ghost. He causes
no end of trouble and delights in mayhem and chaos.
The Grey Lady (Ravenclaw ghost) (PS12) Very little is known about the Grey Lady apart from the fact that she is very tall and she
is the resident ghost of Ravenclaw. Harry and Ron encounter her gliding past in the corridor while out looking for the Mirror
of Erised (PS12). According to a letter written by JKR to Nina Young, the Grey Lady is "a highly intellectual young lady" and a woman with
strong scholarly or literary interests. "She never found true love as she never found a man up to her standards."
So how do we know that the Grey Lady is the Ravenclaw ghost? JKR showed a page from her
notebook in a televised interview. Clearly visible on that page was the list of house ghosts which indicated that the Ravenclaw
ghost was the Grey Lady. In the film, she appeared a number of times. She was sitting at a desk in MacGonagall's classroom
when Harry, Ron, and Hermione came bursting in, demanding to talk to Dumbledore. She was also talking with Nearly Headless
Nick when he told her that Harry had been made a Seeker (PS/f)
A reader sent this note: "I thought
you'd be interested to know that the ghost of Ravenclaw, the Grey Lady, could actually be or be based on the 'Grey Lady' that
haunts Brodick Castle, on the Isle of Arran in Scotland. The castle was originally built by the Stewarts and was captured
by the English during the Wars of Independence. In 1406 an English fleet sailed into the Clyde and destroyed much of the original
castle. For much of its life the castle has been owned by members of the Hamilton family. The older part of the castle is
said to be haunted by the "Grey Lady", who starved to death in the dungeons of the castle because she had the plague."
Professor Binns Binns is the only Hogwarts teacher who is a ghost.
Edgar Clogg Ghost who hangs around the Quidditch pitch at Hogwarts. (Quidditch World Cup
video game)
non-Hogwarts ghosts
[1] -Naturally, we all assume that the "silvery" bloodstains are that color because the Baron is a ghost. But it bears mention
that Unicorns possibly have silvery blood as well, judging by descriptions of bloodstains in the forest when the unicorns were being killed.
So there is a chance that the Baron is covered in Unicorn blood.
Routines and Schedules the school year daily routines schedules (classes, exams) detentions
The School Year at Hogwarts
- The year begins on September 1
- Hogwarts Express leaves King's Cross Station at 11 a.m., bringing
students to Hogsmeade Station where the 2nd through 7th years ride horseless carriages up to the castle and 1st years cross
the lake in boats with Hagrid
- the start-of-year feast
- the Sorting
- a few words from Dumbledore
- vast quantities of food and drink
- a few more words from Dumbledore, including the "start-of-term
notices"
- classes begin on September 2 - schedules handed out at breakfast
- Quidditch trials during the second week (SS7), also flying lessons
for first years
- Halloween Feast on the evening of October 31
- hundreds of live bats flying around
- delicious pumpkin treats
- first Quidditch match in the beginning of November
- second week of December McGonangall takes names of those who are
staying over the Christmas holidays
- end of first term is usually about a week before Christmas and
most of the students and some of the teachers go home
- December 25: Christmas Feast
- shortly after January 1: Hogwarts Express returns and start of
second term
- Easter holidays - students go home, exact dates vary every year
- exams are held the first week of June
- results come out the second week of June
- Leaving Feast, sometimes called the end-of-term feast, the evening
before the Hogwarts Express goes back to London
- the Hogwarts Express returns to London during the third week of
June
- all staff and students leave Hogwarts during the summer except
for Filch (SN)
Daily Routines at Hogwarts
-
The day begins with breakfast in the Great Hall. During breakfast, the morning mail arrives in a flurry
of hundreds of owls. A bell signals the start of the first class at 9 am.
-
At the end of this class, there is a short break to walk to the next class after which another bell
signals the beginning of the next class.
-
There are two morning classes with a break between, followed by lunch and a break.
-
After lunch, classes resume at 1 pm. It is not clear if there are one or two classes in the afternoon.
-
Supper is served in the Great Hall toward evening, after which the students are expected to be in their
House common rooms for studying and socializing.
-
There is no set bedtime after supper.
-
first year Gryffindors have Friday afternoon off (SS8)
Schedules
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Staff members past and present
"D'you think we've got nothing better to do in Potions than listen to Snape?"
-- Ron Weasley
Q: Have any of the Hogwarts professors had spouses?
JKR: Good question - yes, a few of them but that information is sort of restricted - you'll find out why. (CR)
At
Hogwarts, a staff of about fourteen teachers apparently handles classes for hundreds of students. Any way you look at it,
that's a lot of classes for a few staff members. There are exactly the same number of female as male staff members at Hogwarts
(or there were, as of the 1993-94 school year).
Binns wizard, the only ghost teacher History of Magic teacher
Dumbledore, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Headmaster (c.1970 - present) Transfiguration c.1940s
Filch, Argus caretaker
Firenze Divination teacher On staff since 1996, the only centaur teacher
Flitwick, Filius Charms teacher Head of Ravenclaw House
Grubbly-Plank, Wilhelmina temporary - Care of Magical Creatures (January, 1995; September-October 1995)
Hagrid, Rubeus Care of Magical Creatures (September 1993-present) Keeper of the Keys
and Grounds
Hooch, Rolanda Flying teacher, Quidditch referee
Kettleburn (wizard) Care
of Magical Creatures through spring 1993, when he decided to retire and spend time with his remaining limbs
Lockhart, Gilderoy Defense Against the Dark Arts 1992-3
Lupin, Remus Defense Against the Dark Arts 1993-4
McGonagall, Minerva Transfiguration Teacher Deputy Headmistress Head of Gryffindor House On staff since December of 1956 (OP)
Sinistra (witch) Astronomy
Teacher
Moody, Alastor "Mad-Eye" Defense Against the Dark Arts 1994-5? The real Alastor "Mad-Eye"
Moody did not serve on staff, although this was not discovered until June, 1995. The teacher everyone thought was Moody was
actually Barty Crouch Jr. in disguise. Still, the real Mad-Eye is counted as a spectacular example of the supposed jinx on
the DADA job.
Pince, Irma librarian
Pomfrey, Poppy School nurse
Quirrell, Quirenius Defense Against the Dark Arts before 1990-1991, 1991-2
Snape, Severus Potions Master Head of Slytherin House On staff since 1981 (or very late 1980)
Sprout, Pomona Herbology Head of Hufflepuff House
Trelawney, Sibyll Divination teacher On staff since late 1979 or early 1980
Umbridge, Dolores Jane
Defense Against the Dark Arts (1995-6)
Vector (witch) Arithmancy teacher
unknown teachers for Ancient Runes and Muggle Studies
former staff members
Phineas Nigellus - (headmaster, c. 1800s?) Derwent, Dilys - headmistress, 1741 - 1768 (OP22) Dippet, Armando - Headmaster c. 1940 Everard - former, celebrated headmaster, dates unknown (OP21) Fortescue -
former headmaster, dates unknown (OP21) Ogg - Groundskeeper (Molly Weasley's era) Pringle, Apollyon - caretaker (Molly Weasley's era)
see also: academics
Notes on the ratio of male to female staff members at Hogwarts: (Thanks
to Tennant Stuart whose excellent post on alt.fan.harry-potter was a great help)
Rowling stated in an interview with Radio CBC This Morning, October 23, 2000:
(I)n fact, if you look at the Hogwarts' staff - I had this discussion with someone the other
day - it is exactly 50/50. Although it is true that you do have a headmaster as opposed to a headmistress, but that has not
always been the case. As you will find out, there have been equal numbers of headmistresses. Since
Professor Sinistra is a witch, it works out like this... FULL STAFF
WOMEN |
MEN |
Madam Hooch (Quidditch) Minerva McGonagall (Transfig) Irma Pince (Librarian) Poppy
Pomfrey (Nurse) Professor Sinistra (Astronomy) Professor Sprout (Herbology) Sibyll Trelawney (Divinations) Professor
Vector (Arithmancy) Unknown teacher (MS/AR)* Dolores Jane Umbridge (DADA) |
Professor Binns (History of Magic) Argus Filch (Caretaker) Albus Dumbledore (Headmaster)
Professor Flitwick (Charms) Rubeus Hagrid (Keeper of the Keys and Grounds) Professor Kettleburn (Care of Magical
Creatures) Severus Snape (Potions) Quirrell/Lockhart/Lupin/Moody (DADA) Unknown teacher (MS/AR)* Firenze (Divination)
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TEACHING STAFF ONLY
WOMEN |
MEN |
Madam Hooch (Flying) Minerva McGonagall (Transfig) Professor Sinistra (Astronomy) Professor
Sprout (Herbology) Sibyll Trelawney (Divination) Professor Vector (Arithmancy) Unknown teacher (MS/AR)* Dolores
Jane Umbridge (DADA) |
Professor Binns (History of Magic) Albus Dumbledore (Headmaster) Professor Flitwick (Charms)
Hagrid/Kettleburn (Care of Magical Creatures) Severus Snape (Potions) Quirrell/Lockhart/Lupin/Moody (DADA) Unknown
teacher (MS/AR)* Firenze (Divination) | *
Unknown teachers for Muggle Studies and Ancient Runes, presumably one male and one female to keep the lists balanced.
Academics
schedule of classes by year
reference classes instructors textbooks class schedules
essays A Hogwarts Education: Well Rounded or Not? Teachers and Curriculum: Would You Want This For Your Child? Introduction to Muggle Studies N.E.W.T.s and O.W.L.s: an explanation for non-British folks Textbooks at Hogwarts
schedule of classes by year Year 1: classes:
- Defense Against the Dark Arts
- Potions
- Transfiguration
- History of Magic
- Charms
- Astronomy
- Herbology
June: finals (exams)
Year 2 same classes as year 1 choose two additional classes for year
3 (during Easter holidays) partial list:
Arithmancy
Ancient Runes
Divination
Care of Magical Creatures
Muggle Studies June: finals (exams)
Year 3 same classes as year 1, add two new subjects June: finals (exams)
Year 4 same classes as year 3, begin preparing for O.W.L.s June: finals
(exams)
Year 5 same classes as year 3 June: Ordinary Wizarding Levels (O.W.L.s)
Year 6: We won't know what the classes are for year 6 until that book comes out, although it is likely that sixth years begin
taking more specialized, in-depth classes in their chosen fields. June:
finals (exams)
Year 7: We won't know what the classes are for year 7 either, although it is likely that seventh years concentrate on takingclasses
in their chosen fields. June: Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests (N.E.W.T.s)
A Hogwarts Education: Well Rounded or Not? There
is much we don't know about Wizarding education.
- How do younger Wizards and Witches get educated in basic skills
like reading and writing?
- We see very little of this in the books, although obviously the
kids coming into Hogwarts have been trained in some of these basic skills or they wouldn't be able to handle the classes they
face at Hogwarts. Given the very medieval nature of the Wizarding World, I suggest that most kids are trained either by their
parents in basic reading, writing, and math, or are trained in small one-room schools with a relatively few children and one
teacher. This training would cover the basics and enough pre-magic theory to produce kids who can function in the Wizarding
society.
- Do all children in the Wizarding World go to Hogwarts? Are there
other, less prestigious schools in Britain?
- JKR says that Hogwarts is the only Wizarding school in Britain
for kids eleven and up. Perhaps that means that kids who don't qualify for Hogwarts, people like Stan Shunpike for example,
move immediately into trades where they become apprentices. They then learn the magic necessary for their station in life
and that's about it. If that doesn't sound fair, remember that if they had more magical ability than that, they'd have been
invited to come to Hogwarts. This fits in with a medieval-style culture, although it seems limiting to us.
- When do Hogwarts students learn the rest of what we consider to
be essential parts of any curriculum, things like geography, literature, or foreign languages?
- We do know of quite a few classes Hogwarts does offer, and these
courses do cover a lot of what we would call a well-rounded education. Neil Ward on HP4GU gives us this list of classes and
what traditional subject areas they cover:
- Herbology = Botany/Gardening
- Care of Magical Creatures = Zoology/Veterinary Science
- Arithmancy = Arithmetic/Mathematics
- Potions = Chemistry/Cookery/Pharmacology
- Astronomy = (Astro)physics/Mathematics/Geography (of the Heavens)
- Charms = Latin/Drama/Kinetics
- DADA = Physical Education/Chemistry/Physics
- Divination = Mathematics/Psychology/Philosophy/Lunacy
- Ancient Runes = History/Logic/Mathematics/Linguistics
- Transfiguration = Physics/Biology (bioenergetics)/Physical Education
- History of Magic = History/Tolerance (of boredom)
- Quidditch = Physical Education/Driving Lessons [US: Driver's Ed]
- Muggle Studies = History/Sociology/Technology etc.
- Most of these subjects would include use of English Language in
the writing of essays, but there are a few topics that don't seem to be covered much at all: Terrestrial Geography (it's no
wonder that no one knows where anything is located), Modern Languages, English Lit, Art, Music and Sex Education spring to
mind. Overall, the curriculum seems very science-heavy and could do with an injection from the creative arts. For example,
I'd love to see the Sorting Hat coaching the Hogwarts' School Choir – that would have so much comic potential.
Teachers and Curriculum: Would You Want This For Your Child? Academics at Hogwarts are a curious mix of practical experience and rote learning. While
the curriculum is dictated to some extent by the Ministry of Magic (GF14), each instructor is given considerable leeway in exactly what they teach and how they go about it. To be perfectly
frank, some of the instructors at Hogwarts are very poor teachers indeed and would never survive in a Muggle school. The education
provided to the students at Hogwarts is scattered and incomplete in many areas. Students learn Potions and Transfiguration
rigorously and completely, studying both the theory and implementation in a carefully planned way. On the other hand, their
training in Defense Against the Dark Arts is very inconsistent, with at least one entire school year recently (1992-93) being
taught with no practical lessons at all after the first day (CS), and their time in Care of Magical Creatures during 1993-5
seems to have been a complete waste, unless they plan to become flobberworm ranchers once they leave school (PA, GF).
The fact that teachers are allowed to be grossly unfair and vindictive
in their treatment of students is another cause for concern. There seems to be no recourse for a student like Neville Longbottom,
who is being consistently abused by his Potions teacher. He is expected to tough it out. Hogwarts classes are dangerous as
well. In various activities planned as part of lessons, students are routinely injured or "damaged" in sometimes spectacular
ways. Perhaps it is because of Madam Pomfrey's amazing ability to patch things together, regrow bones, and reattach noses
makes that all these many accidents are not cause for more alarm. One can only imagine the reactions of parents to some of
the tales their children bring home from school during holidays...
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