Thank you, Aurora. I look forward to learning a bit about what's in the sky overhead.
I've been thinking about what we learned when I was a girl, and I do, truly, think it was more rudimentary than what you teach today. It was certainly the case that they didn't urge us to continue with the subject beyond the first year: that was only for those with a real yen for star-gazing. As I remember it, the curriculum in my day was more focused on charms for daily living ('seven scouring charms to serve all purposes'), practical transfiguration ('a lampshade will do in a pinch'), and repelling magical creatures ('say goodbye to garden gnomes'). Herbology and Potions were more tightly interwoven, then, and I suppose it's no surprise that I found those rather more engaging than the rest. But perhaps I'm being unfair to the wand magics: we did have a deadly dueling club then, and now I think on it, they didn't stint us on hexes and defences. I still remember Professor Nogg declaring, 'You never know when you might need to drop an Erumpent at fifty paces!'
In any case, our pupils are very lucky to have you to teach them. And I am fortunate to have you, too. I look forward to seeing what I shall see with your telescope. You were very kind to lend it to me.
I suspect I shall repay you with a bushel basketful of questions next Monday!
no subject
I've been thinking about what we learned when I was a girl, and I do, truly, think it was more rudimentary than what you teach today. It was certainly the case that they didn't urge us to continue with the subject beyond the first year: that was only for those with a real yen for star-gazing. As I remember it, the curriculum in my day was more focused on charms for daily living ('seven scouring charms to serve all purposes'), practical transfiguration ('a lampshade will do in a pinch'), and repelling magical creatures ('say goodbye to garden gnomes'). Herbology and Potions were more tightly interwoven, then, and I suppose it's no surprise that I found those rather more engaging than the rest. But perhaps I'm being unfair to the wand magics: we did have a deadly dueling club then, and now I think on it, they didn't stint us on hexes and defences. I still remember Professor Nogg declaring, 'You never know when you might need to drop an Erumpent at fifty paces!'
In any case, our pupils are very lucky to have you to teach them. And I am fortunate to have you, too. I look forward to seeing what I shall see with your telescope. You were very kind to lend it to me.
I suspect I shall repay you with a bushel basketful of questions next Monday!