Neville and Snape

[milz]

No: HPFGUIDX 3861

--- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, Christina Gross <Changeling at d...> 
wrote:
> On 16.10.2000 at 17:35:12 milz  wrote:
> 
> >Snape is a very intimidating teacher. (I had a Snape in high 
school 
> >and college). Neville is rather meek and easily intimidated and 
that 
> >makes it difficult for him to handle Snapes "tough love" teaching 
> >method.
> 
> I wouldn't describe Snape's teaching style as "tough love". I had
> teachers who thought the only way to overcome their students 
laziness
> and lack of interest was to really push them hard, so they would
> study even without accepting the value of what was drilled into 
their
> heads and have it available when they need it later in life. Snape
> strikes me as a person who is deeply unhappy about his situation in
> life and takes that out on his students. Neville can't handle that 
as
> well as some of his other students, which makes him a perfect 
victim.
> I can't see any desire to impart knowledge in Snape.
> 
> Greetings
> Christina

My "tough love" comment was meant in sarcasm, since I've 
been "Snaped" by at least two educators in my life.

I think Snape likes his subject (potions), but isn't very keen on 
teaching. I know people who are very good in their particular field 
but are very poor teachers. Part of it is due to poor interpersonal 
communication skills and part of it is that they really aren't 
interested in sharing their knowledge with anyone. In SS/PS, the very 
first potions class was a disaster for Neville: he melts a cauldron, 
his wart reducing potion burns holes in the student's shoes, and he 
gets burned by the potion himself. The first words out of Snape's 
mouth is "Idiot boy". Being called an "idiot" in front of the entire 
class on the first day is rather intimidating to say the least. I 
would like to see a meeting between Neville's Gran and Snape....I 
keep picturing her whacking Snape on the head with her red handbag!

Someone also brought up the Snape at Hogwarts protection theory. I 
subscribe to that. I have a feeling that the information Snape passed 
onto Dumbledore was so damaging that if any Death Eaters were to even 
suspect Snape was a spy, Snape would be killed. That information 
could have been anything from the attack on the Potters to the Death 
Eaters responsible for the McKinnons and the Prewitts deaths. It's 
either that or Snape is an employer's nightmare and no one wants to 
hire him!

:-)Milz