A Lesson on Teaching from Harry Potter - Part 2
A Lesson on Teaching from Harry Potter - Part 2
“Wands away and quills out, please.”
— Professor Dolores Umbridge
With these words Professor Dolores Umbridge began teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts. Her words differ starkly from those of Professor Remus Lupin. He began his class by saying, “Would you please put all your books back in your bags. Today’s will be a practical lesson. You will need only your wands.”
In a previous post I wrote about Professor Lupin's remarkable ability to instill confidence in his students and enable them to learn new skills so that they could become experienced wizards and witches.
Professor Umbridge, on the other hand, was not really interested in the development of the students. She was more interested that they use the prescribed curriculum than she was in their acquisition of skills that would enable them to defend against the dark arts.
On the first day of class there was a tremendous exchange between her and her bewildered students who actually wanted to gain experience that would prepare them for any future encounter with evil witches and wizards.
Hermione Granger, the most learned of all the students, kicked off the interrogation by saying, “Surely the whole point of Defense Against the Dark Arts is to practice defensive spells?”
Emboldened by Hermione's courage other students began contributing until it finally led to this revealing exchange:
"And your name is?" she [Professor Umbridge] added, staring at Parvati, whose hand had just shot up. “Parvati Patil, and isn’t there a practical bit in our Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L.? Aren’t we supposed to show that we can actually do the countercurses and things?”
“As long as you have studied the theory hard enough, there is no reason why you should not be able to perform the spells under carefully controlled examination conditions,” said Professor Umbridge dismissively.
“Without ever practicing them before?” said Parvati incredulously. “Are you telling us that the first time we’ll get to do the spells will be during our exam?”
“I repeat, as long as you have studied the theory hard enough—”
“And what good’s theory going to be in the real world?” said Harry loudly, his fist in the air again.
Professor Umbridge looked up. “This is school, Mr. Potter, not the real world,” she said softly.
“So we’re not supposed to be prepared for what’s waiting out there?” Said Harry…
“There is nothing waiting out there, Mr. Potter.”
Teachers across America would be cheering the students on as they raged against the institutional machine represented by Professor Umbridge. For many of them became educators with a dream of really preparing kids for life, because they believe that there is, in fact, something "waiting out there." And if the students aren't prepared to deal with it, it will deal with them.
I, as a pastor, would be cheering them on, too. Sadly many churches have also adopted a kind of "Wands away and quills out" approach to Christian education. I'm also interested in preparing Christians to live well in this world and, although I understand the necessity of book studies, I chafe against the unending desire to study books together, as if gathering information was the thing we are supposed to be known for.
The current mode of educating Christians can only wring it hands and look at the ground when confronted with Jesus' instructions for his disciples.
"I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." — Matthew 28:19-20 NLT
Inherent in these instructions is a command to learn and teach. If one looks closely you will see these 3 goals:
Be the kind of people who are experiencing the kind of life he wants to which he want them to bear witness.
Immerse new disciples in the Trinitarian reality by being a community of Trinitarian love.
Teach the new disciples how to obey what Jesus commanded, not just about what he commanded.
In other words, there are clear expectations of becoming a kingdom kind of person in Jesus' instructions. If our teaching approach doesn't have this end as a goal we are just passing along information.
Imagine if a majority of students graduated from Hogwarts without knowing how to work magic. One would rightfully question why it was important for the school to continue existing. Should those questions also be asked of Christian education institutions and churches?
I thank God for the Christian education institutions, groups and individuals that regularly teach in ways that lead students to become competent in their ability to do what is being taught. Because in the same way the wizarding world of Harry Potter needed witches and wizards who knew how to defend against the dark arts, the world in which we live needs disciples of Jesus who know how to live in the power of the God.
Obviously I am passionate about this subject. It has found its way into many of my blog posts. If you're aware of any institutions, organizations, churches, para-churches, home churches, etc, that are actually teaching for kingdom transformation please let me know. I like to learn from these kinds of groups so that I can do a better job at it myself.
Thank you for taking the time to read these posts, it is humbling whenever I think that someone made it to the end of them.