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Teenage Rowling was 'extremely intelligent' 
MAY 4, 2007 at 5:34 AM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: TwinCities.com
A Minnesota educator reminisces
about his days as a foreign student teacher in the UK, when 13-year-old Joanne Rowling herself was a pupil:
"I was contacted by the teachers in England who I had stayed with, and they told me that the Harry Potter author had gone to Wyedean at the same time I was there and perhaps I knew her," [Dale] Neuschwander said. "It had been a long time, but I went to the grade book that I kept from that time and when I saw the class that she was in and her grades, I remembered her."
It was easy for the teacher to remember his former pupil. Her writing shone.
"She got straight A's and A-pluses in creative writing," he said.
When Neuschwander wrote to Rowling in 2000 to congratulate her on publishing Harry Potter, the author wrote back and her handwritten letter (the contents of which are in the full article) now hangs on his wall.
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Auror
Points: 2907
Pema says:
*catches breath again*
I can't wait to read that! Wow!
Posted May 4, 2007 at 10:35 AM EST
Hogwarts Social Worker
Points: 3199
SnoopyLover says:
There's a surprise.
How could JK not be smart? The way she weaves together details and plot lines is really great, and there's no way that can be done without having a good head on your shoulders.
Posted May 4, 2007 at 10:57 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1065
Elza Black says:
This is a wonderful story. Sometimes having a great tracher makes all the difference in the world.
Posted May 4, 2007 at 11:17 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1488
ALLI8 says:
That is soo cool, i would expect nothing eles from the teen Rowling. That would have been so cool to know her. However, it is alittle creepy that he hung it on his wall. Odd, but kind of cute....
Alli8
Posted May 4, 2007 at 11:41 AM EST
Dragon Rider
Points: 4414
~MalfoyPotter~ says:
Well thats expected. :) A teacher never forgets her/his students... I suppose JK's fame reignited that teacher's memory.
Good for her. :D
~MP~
Posted May 4, 2007 at 12:29 PM EST
Auror
Points: 4040
Dan's no.1 fan 4ever says:
L.o.L, did anyone seriously think otherwise?
You can't learn to be good at creative writing, it's a skill/talent which somepeople have, whilst others sadly don't. At least that's what I think anyway ;).
Posted May 4, 2007 at 12:34 PM EST
Witch
Points: 556
frannie says:
I'm not surprised. She is an extremely intelligent woman to be able to create the world of Harry Potter.
Posted May 4, 2007 at 12:46 PM EST
Witch
Points: 894
darkside rocker says:
That is a cool story...............
Posted May 4, 2007 at 12:52 PM EST
Heir of Slytherin
Points: 5494
Spazzingduck says:
Minnesota educater, eh? It's not very often one hears about anything remotely Harry Potter related coming from my state!
Born to be a writer, JKR was :)
Posted May 4, 2007 at 2:09 PM EST
Witch
Points: 590
Hufflepuff's Pride says:
Wow! That is just very facinating... I mean, I read something of that sort when I was reading an unauthorized copy of J.K. Rowling biography.
Cool, though.
I love reading J.K.'s books and besides, I am starting to get really good marks.
Cheers!
Posted May 4, 2007 at 2:09 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1261
AsiaLovesHP says:
Well it would be suspicious if she really didnt know how to write back then...
Posted May 4, 2007 at 2:19 PM EST
Witch
Points: 840
star chaser says:
Wow, it's not really surprising she got A+ in creative writting. She is a fantastic writter.
Posted May 4, 2007 at 3:09 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1855
Silver_Lining says:
Well i wouldn't have expected any less from the genius that created Harry Potter!
Posted May 4, 2007 at 3:45 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1837
loopy looney says:
How cool would it be to say, that yu taught J.K rowling!!! That must have been an amazing experience!!
Posted May 4, 2007 at 3:55 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1221
TheSeventhHorcrux says:
Hey, a Minnesota educator??? Awesome, I'm in Minnesota!!! That's so cool. Seems that Jo was a student like me; I'm (usually) get A's. Except I doubt I'm as good a writer as she was, and still is.
Posted May 4, 2007 at 3:57 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 427
shadowquill says:
Do we even need to be told that? Of course she was an intelligent teen! :D It's a sweet story, though. The teacher must have been pleasantly surprised remembering her.
Posted May 4, 2007 at 4:16 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 405
svd2793 says:
No surprises there! She seems like such a wonderful, down to earth person.
Posted May 4, 2007 at 4:56 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1608
~Harry's true love~ says:
That doesnt surprise me one bit. You have to have a great mind to come up with so much creativity and such a wonderful story line. I would seriously die if I could hold that paper in my hands!
Posted May 4, 2007 at 5:12 PM EST
Witch
Points: 896
QueenOfAmouraq says:
Yeah, if I was a teacher and I had a student that was as successful as JK Rowling, I'd put her letter on the wall too! This teacher must be very proud to have taught her!
Posted May 4, 2007 at 5:16 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 463
DanielzWifey says:
Awww. that was really nice of her to write back and have him hang her letter on the wall.
Posted May 4, 2007 at 5:20 PM EST
Hobbit at Heart
Points: 2778
DangerousBookworm says:
Wow...that's bizarre! I loved the writing advice.
And the biology head who was Snape? Too funny!
Posted May 4, 2007 at 5:22 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1426
~Hermione says:
Wow! This is so cool. I think there's no doubt that she's intelligent.
Posted May 4, 2007 at 5:55 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2395
Tokio Hotel Fan says:
We all know that she is really smart she made Harry Potter. I would love to have know her as a kid.
Posted May 4, 2007 at 6:17 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1967
HermioneLunaGinny says:
Intelligent? More like...*thinks* Inbrillerest. Intelligent, brilliant, clever. Wait, I forgot creative. Inbrillertivest.
:)
-HLG
Posted May 4, 2007 at 6:23 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2750
Chogiiiirl says:
Well, no doubt that she was "extremely intelligent"! It is nice that her teachers noticed how smart she is even at that early age.
Posted May 4, 2007 at 6:34 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 799
Dr EraseR says:
Honestly people... she simply had to be, she wouldn't have given us such joy if she hadn't ... go Jo..... Toot Toot
Posted May 4, 2007 at 7:15 PM EST
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