D.A.D.A Guide
written by Alexa Jamie Potter
Having trouble with your D.A.D.A homework . . . eh? Well in this book, it will guide you to pass tests and improve your knowledge on the dark arts!
Last Updated
05/31/21
Chapters
5
Reads
1,271
Curriculum
Chapter 3
"You have had five teachers in this subject so far, I believe. Naturally, these teachers will all have had their own methods and priorities. Given this confusion I am surprised so many of you scraped an O.W.L. in this subject. I shall be even more surprised if all of you manage to keep up with N.E.W.T. work, which will be much more advanced."
—Professor Snape on the curriculum's instability[src]
Due to the constant changing of teachers until the jinx created by Voldemort was broken, the curriculum of Defence Against the Dark Arts varied from year to year. Each teacher had their own priorities and way of teaching, and their own respective efficiency proportional to his or her beliefs and methods, such as Quirinus Quirrell and Dolores Umbridge believing that theories are enough (which were, in fact, more hindering), while the more effective Remus Lupin, Bartemius Crouch Junior (then disguised as Alastor Moody with Polyjuice Potion) and Severus Snape had a more balanced belief in theory and practical defence.
Sixth years are supposed to be given demonstrations on what illegal curses look like; it was only in the 1994-1995 school year that this was changed to the fourth year.[17]
Earlier teachers from the 1985–1986 school year for example, were considered highly incompetent and ineffective by most students, and as such, very rarely showed up to teach.[3]
During the 1988–1989 school year, the renowned Curse-Breaker Patricia Rakepick was appointed as the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher for that academic year. She proved herself to be a highly effective teacher of both defensive and offensive magic, having taught her students a wide variety of fascinating and useful topics during her lessons, to compensate her students for having learnt almost nothing in previous years. She even gave her select students private lessons in the subject, teaching them how to duel, in preparation for locating the Cursed Vaults throughout the Castle.[3]
During the 1989–1990 school year, Bill Weasley was given permission by Albus Dumbledore to teach extra-curricular evening classes in this subject to students after graduating the school, due to the ineffectiveness of the teaching that year.[34]
—Professor Snape on the curriculum's instability[src]
Due to the constant changing of teachers until the jinx created by Voldemort was broken, the curriculum of Defence Against the Dark Arts varied from year to year. Each teacher had their own priorities and way of teaching, and their own respective efficiency proportional to his or her beliefs and methods, such as Quirinus Quirrell and Dolores Umbridge believing that theories are enough (which were, in fact, more hindering), while the more effective Remus Lupin, Bartemius Crouch Junior (then disguised as Alastor Moody with Polyjuice Potion) and Severus Snape had a more balanced belief in theory and practical defence.
Sixth years are supposed to be given demonstrations on what illegal curses look like; it was only in the 1994-1995 school year that this was changed to the fourth year.[17]
Earlier teachers from the 1985–1986 school year for example, were considered highly incompetent and ineffective by most students, and as such, very rarely showed up to teach.[3]
During the 1988–1989 school year, the renowned Curse-Breaker Patricia Rakepick was appointed as the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher for that academic year. She proved herself to be a highly effective teacher of both defensive and offensive magic, having taught her students a wide variety of fascinating and useful topics during her lessons, to compensate her students for having learnt almost nothing in previous years. She even gave her select students private lessons in the subject, teaching them how to duel, in preparation for locating the Cursed Vaults throughout the Castle.[3]
During the 1989–1990 school year, Bill Weasley was given permission by Albus Dumbledore to teach extra-curricular evening classes in this subject to students after graduating the school, due to the ineffectiveness of the teaching that year.[34]
