DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.

 

 Conclusions

 

 

Successful teachers are those that can see educational and personal growth in their students. There is usually visible progress from the student’s initial skill level.

 

An example of this can be seen through the characterization of student Neville Longbottom and his evolution throughout the series. Longbottom begins his journey through Hogwarts making mistakes and having a relative low skill level (at times non-existent) in all his academic endeavors. He was often bullied in class. He wasn’t popular like Potter; smart like Granger or courageous like Weasley. Throughout the years and through instruction from professors like Prof. Lupin, he becomes confident in himself and more skillful in all subjects. 

 

 

Fig. 13 Neville Longbottom kills the snake Nagini in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)

 

At the end of the series, he is confident enough to kill the snake Nagini (Fig. 13), which holds the last connection that keeps alive Lord Voldemort. His confident act and critical thinking skills to handle the situation save the lives of his classmates Granger and Weasley. He is no longer a helpless young boy. He has grown to become a confident young man.

 

Professors like Prof. Dumbledore become life-long mentors; their advice creates an impact in the students’ lives even after they are gone. Potter grows up to learn a lot on an educational and personal context from his mentor. Along with academic, organizational and critical thinking knowledge, he gained a sense for ethics and morality.

 

“Professional morality deals with decisions, strategies, products and by-products in teaching; it deals with teachers' readiness and ability to estimate the consequences of their actions (or omissions) on the people involved (the students, particularly), and with their courses of action in solving interpersonal conflicts in and around the classroom. Teachers are expected to be well prepared, to act responsibly in every task they have to accomplish. They are expected to make, justify and carry out decisions--be they organizational, instructional, or pedagogical in nature. However, they work with people and not with things. Their decisions affect other persons. If needs, interests or standpoints conflict, a teacher's responsibility cannot be adequately judged by the degree he or she is prepared to "manage" the problem. Conflicts can be suppressed, ignored or settled in different ways. All of this has consequences for the people concerned; in an educational setting, every course of events provides children and adolescents with experiences.” (Oser, Fritz. Althof, Wolfgang. “Trust in advance: On the professional morality of teachers.” Journal of Moral Education. Vol. 22 Issue 3 (1993): pg. 253. Web)

 

 

Fig. 14 Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) talks to Granger (Emma Watson) and Weasley (Rupert Grint) he then decides to throw away the elder wand in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows-Part 2 (2011)

 

Fig. 14 shows how Potter uses his experiences to make a decision based on moral and ethical principles. After Lord Voldemort has been defeated Potter finds himself in possession of the elder wand. The wand once belonged to Prof. Dumbledore and it is the most powerful wand in the world. Potter can use it and be the most powerful wizard. However, his logic and prior knowledge tell him that destroying it would be best to avoid future rivalries and struggles from others to gain power. He reflects on what he has learned from Prof. Dumbledore and breaks it in half in front of his friends Granger and Weasley. Then he throws away the broken pieces. The maturity he displays to make that decision is appreciated and respected by his friends. The three of them know that Prof. Dumbledore would have approved such decision because it ensures a safer future for everyone. Making decisions in the outside world is the true test students must pass and the greatest lesson they will receive from their teachers. 

DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.