[HPforGrownups] Neville: was re: Authority and rule-breaking

[Morag Traynor]

No: HPFGUIDX 16580

Amanda wrote:
>I think Snape's view of what a teacher does, and yours (and mine),
>probably differs. Snape probably considers the duty of a teacher to
>impart information, and this he does. <Snip>
>
> >  if Snape was any kind of a teacher, he'd realize the poor kid is
> > scared out of his wits.
>
>He probably does. He probably doesn't care. It's not his job as a
>teacher to mollycoddle anyone.

Interesting points about teaching styles, and I can see that he would 
probably dismiss any notions of "developing the whole child" as poppycock.  
In fact I can imagine him being grimly sarcastic (and quite funny) on the 
subject!

I can also see that the polyjuice episode can be taken as evidence that, 
actually, he must have taught them something.  But that is masterminded by 
Hermione and I think the credit must largely go to her.  If Neville could 
have done it, for instance, I might be more impressed.  That's because I 
think Neville is only clumsy and inept when people start out by telling him 
he's useless.

But to start the first class by telling them he expects them all to be 
dunderheads, then firing a question at Harry which he couldn't be expected 
to answer, and following it up with *another* one, and then ANOTHER one, all 
the while ignoring the one person (Hermione, of course!) who *does* know - 
well, I think its a textbook example of how *not* to do it!

Compare him with Professor Sprout, who pretty much *does* confine herself to 
imparting information and instructions, and whom I rate highly as a teacher 
(well, *I've* learned a lot from her classes *g*) and you can see the 
difference.

You can even have the prickly personality of Snape and be a good teacher - 
it's the bullying, setting people up to fail and picking on people that I 
can't respect.

I totally agree there's a lot more to Neville - I am really looking forward 
to seeing him grow in confidence and getting more respect - Harry, Ron and 
Hermione tend to be kindly but patronising, though we have seen the first 
signs of Harry re-thinking.  You have also made me think more carefully 
about Snape's attitude to Neville - you're right, it *is* very intense, and 
Snape probably knows something we don't.  Not that that excuses him (and not 
that I thought you were trying to excuse him, either *g*).

Is it just me?  Can anyone point to *anything* we actually see Snape do (as 
opposed to conjecture, albeit quite fairly, that he may have done), that 
puts him in a positive light?

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