OOC: Unless otherwise indicated, your character's response and answers should be roleplayed and posted in this thread rather than PMed to the round host. The Department of Magical Education
Hosted by: Pink Ninja
Antigone stood in the front of the room, her hair in a tight bun, dressed in a fitted pant suit. She had a pleasant smile on her face but she meant business. There were several stacks of papers on her desk that she flicked her wand at once everyone was seated in her nice neat rows. And moved her blackboard so that everyone could see it clearly.
"
Hello all! Welcome to the Department of Education! I am here to help you all get a better sense of what a good teacher should be!" she said loud enough for all to hear. She took a few steps forward and looked out into the crowd of people and smiled.
"
I would like to enlighten you all on what I believe, and the rest of my Department, believes makes a good teacher for our youth, and what qualities makes a bad teacher," she said in a light tone. "
Now, in my personal opinion a teacher needs to know when to draw the line between being a friend and being an authority figure. Now I do believe that it is essential that the children are treated equally and that all of the professors care about them, but favoritism in the classroom is not something I agree with." she continued.
Looking at everyone along the front row she then turned and pointed her wand at the blackboard in front of the room. Two columns appeared, good and bad. Under the good column she made the word
compassionate appear. "
I also believe that a fair and just attitude makes for a better learning environment," as she spoke the word fair and just appeared underneath compassionate, "
But I am afraid there are far too many that show favoritism and seem to care less and less for the children. There should be an equal amount of fun and discipline in the classroom." Now appearing under the bad column were the words
favoritism and
being too hard on the children. "
There are some professors that would rather not have to be around the children anymore than necessary and have terrible attitudes toward them. In my mind, these people ought to not be allowed to teach the children how to tie their shoes, much less how to do magic," she said matter of factly.
"
The main thing is though, that the children are taught the subject and taught it well, whatever it may be. The professors should be well versed in their particular subject and present the material in a manner in which all students can understand it and perform it," she said and the words
well versed appeared under the good column and the words
unorganized and no clue appeared under the bad column. SHe smirked at her straight to the quick answers there.
Smiling tightly she then continued, "
These pamphlets are excerpts from ,the once High Inquisitor of Hogwarts, Delores Jane Umbridge's reports on the Professors. What I want you all to do is look over these reports and decide whether or not you agree with her reports. Knowing what we do about the fine educators of that time period I think it might be an easy task."
She had begun to make her way around the room watching as the reports landed on desk after desk after desk. "
You will find that the back page is blank. The reason for this is that I wish for each of you to tell me here which of these professors you would fire and why. Also please tell me which one you think is the best suited for their job, she said with a grin.
Text Cut: Umbridge Reports
Extract from the Initial Report of the Hogwarts High Inquisitor
Charms:
While Professor Flitwick is cheerful and welcoming, the Hogwarts High Inquisitor, that is to say I, feel that this demeanor encourages the wrong sort of learning environment. While the students were focused on their studies, there were more mishaps than one would have expected, all of which resulted in far too much merriment.
Points for improvement: Professor Flitwick should focus on disciplining his classes when they step out of line, and conduct his lessons with a serious manner.
Action to be taken: Probation not deemed to be necessary.
Divination: Professor Trelawney lacks the basic skills of divination and teaching. Her predictions are a mixture of deduction and wild guesses. Her class control is minimal, she resorts to making ghoulish predictions in order to scare or bore her students into submission. She is also unable to make predictions on request.
Points for improvement: Professor Trelawney needs to revisit some tried and tested, ministry approved disciplinary procedures and apply them. She must also become more accurate in her predictions and teaching methods.
Action to be taken: Further inspection is required. Probation may be a necessary measure.
Care of Magical Creatures:Professor Hagrid is difficult to understand, intimidating to the students and seems to take pleasure in the thought of other people being hurt. His curriculum is vastly inappropriate for the age group he is teaching and he refuses to admit this. There have been injuries in his classes, one of which has led to a hypogryff being sentenced to death by the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures, although the beast escaped, something that the Hogwarts High Inquisitor, that is to say I, am convinced was arranged by Professor Hagrid.
Points for improvement: Professor Hagrid should follow the lesson plans left by Professor Grubbly-Plank while he reassesses his curriculum so that it is in line with Ministry expectations. He should also concentrate on enunciating clearly so that the students can understand him.
Action to be taken: Further inspection is required. Probation may be a necessary measure.
Herbology: While Professor Sprout has a sound knowledge of her subject and so she is able to convey this knowledge to a reasonable standard. However, she allows her pupils to use foul language in her classes, something that the Hogwarts High Inquisitor, that is to say I, find most abhorrent and unnecessary. The amount of group work that is undertaken by Professor Sprout’s classes is also of concern, as they seem at times to almost be teaching each other, rather than receiving instruction from her.
Points for improvement: Professor Sprout would benefit from revisiting and revising some basic teaching skills, including what is acceptable language for the classroom.
Action to be taken: Probation not deemed to be necessary.
Potions:
Professor Snape is a highly competent Professor who had excellent control over his classes. It is clear that he has consistently and throughly educated his students throughout his tenure at Hogwarts. The Hogwarts High Inquisitor, that is to say I, have doubts about some of the potions that are currently on the syllabus, for example Strengthening Solution. However, there are other considerations to take into account which outweigh this. Professor Snape seems to be highly skilled in many areas and seems to be an asset to the school.
Points for improvement: Professor Snape should consider revising which potions are on the syllabus as some of them are too advanced for young children.
Action to be taken: Probation not deemed to be necessary.
"
Once you have completed your task and I feel it is to the Education Department's standards you will be given the chance to fire your chosen Professor. This of course will be an illusion. I want to see how you all would handle such a situation," she said with a crooked grin as she made her way back to the desk in front of the room and took a seat.
Quote:
OOC: Depending on your answers and whether you have really tried to think this through and given your best work you will then receive a password to move on to the next level