Harry Potter is perhaps the most important book series of this generation. It has shaped the lives of countless children as it has shaped mine. JK Rowling wrote the world I lost myself in during my terrible middle school years. But as I grew older I realized the glaring inadequacies of this world I loved so dearly. Some are just minor annoyances, but others reveal problematic aspects of the Harry Potter universe and JK Rowling herself. The gaps in the wizarding education system are seriously concerning. While it's funny that Arthur Weasley doesn't understand what a rubber duck is, there are some important aspects of Muggle education that wizarding children should know. Is there a version of magical sex education at Hogwarts? Do younger girls know they are expecting their period? Does the school provide sanitary products or is there a magical way to handle this. Arithmancy isn't a compulsory subject, so most of the magical population doesn't have basic math skills? How do they calculate their finances or taxes? Why are there no English classes at Hogwarts? Do magicians not understand complex sentences, subject-verb agreement, or how to analyze texts? If students turned in essays full of grammatical errors and incoherent sentences, it would explain why Snape is perpetually grumpy. If there are magical paintings all over the school, why aren't there any art classes? Why aren't wizards taught the physics behind their magic? If they were taught about speed or gravity, perhaps they would understand why a simple spell like “wingardium leviosa” is so amazing. Chemistry would certainly be useful in Potions. The pH scale could be vital in teaching students the difference between acid-eating and mildly irritating... middle of paper... zarard supremacist tendencies. Rowling simply had to transform Dumbledore and Grindelwald's correspondence from simple letters to letters with romantic overtones. Hermione, brilliant Hermione, would immediately read the subtext evident in the letters and inform Harry of Dumbledore's relationship with Grindelwald. Maybe it would have helped Harry forgive Dumbledore sooner. Who else could understand the irresistible and all-encompassing 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 by her seventh best-selling book) the enormous influence she had on children of this generation. He knew the positive influence it could have on some of his readers and chose not to use it. Rowling shaped my childhood, but I cannot forgive her for this mistake.