Harry Potter is perhaps the most important book series of this generation. It has shaped the lives of countless children just like mine. JK Rowling wrote the world I got lost in during my terrible middle school years. But as I grew up, I realized the glaring inadequacies of the world I loved so much. Some are just minor annoyances, but others reveal problematic aspects of the Harry Potter universe and JK Rowling herself. The shortcomings of the wizarding education system are of great concern. While it's funny that Arthur Weasley doesn't understand what a rubber ducky is, there are some important aspects of Muggle education that wizarding children should know. Is there a version of wizarding sex education at Hogwarts? Do younger girls know to expect their period? Does the school provide sanitary products or is there a magical way to solve this problem. Arithmancy isn't a required subject, so don't most of the wizarding population have basic math skills? How do they calculate their finances or taxes? Why aren't there English classes at Hogwarts? Don't wizards understand complex sentences, subject-verb agreement or text analysis? If students turn in essays full of grammatical errors and incoherent sentences, that would explain why Snape is perpetually grumpy. If there are magic paintings all over the school, why aren't there art classes? Why don't wizards teach the physics behind their magic? If they were taught about speed or gravity, perhaps they would understand why a spell as simple as "wingardium leviosa" is so extraordinary. Chemistry would surely be useful in potions. The pH scale could be vital in teaching students the difference between an acid to eat and a mild irritant... middle of paper ...... lizard supremacist tendencies. Rowling simply had to transform Dumbledore and Grindelwald's correspondence from simple letters to letters with romantic undertones. Hermione, brilliant Hermione, would have instantly read the obvious subtext in the letters and informed Harry of the relationship between Dumbledore and Grindelwald. Maybe it would have helped Harry forgive Dumbledore sooner. Who else would understand the irresistible and primordial power of love better than Harry Potter (maybe Snape?). Of all my criticisms of the Harry Potter universe, this is probably the biggest. Rowling knew (at least from the seventh bestselling book) the enormous influence she had on the children of that generation. She knew the positive influence she could have had on some of her readers and she chose not to use it. Rowling shaped my childhood, but I can't forgive her for this mistake.