Snape's teaching style (was Snape Again)

[catherine at cator-manor.demon.co.uk]

No: HPFGUIDX 16625

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Hillman, Lee" <lee_hillman at u...> wrote:
<absolutely huge snip>
> Being a "mean" teacher doesn't necessarily equate to being a "bad" 
teacher.
<another absolutely massive snip>
I think this is so true of Snape--admittedly, it's not the
> right approach for Neville. We teach the way we learn. By that I 
mean, if my
> learning style is visual, auditory, or kinetic, grasps concepts 
quickly or
> slowly, requires a lot of coaching, or requires a very clear set of 
tasks
> (Do this, then this, then this), that when I turn around to teach 
someone
> that same process, I'm going to start by teaching it using the 
preferred
> style I used to learn it. 
. Does he have the right to insult and bully them? No, but
> there's a thin line between bullying and challenging. I get the 
sense that
> Snape has one foot to either side of it.
> 
> Gwen (-dolyn Grace, as another Gwen has arrived recently)

I agree with practically eveything you write, with a few niggles here 
and there:- 

I agree that being a mean teacher doesn't really equate with being a 
bad teacher, but I think Snape goes beyond being merely just mean.  
He is a bully, he is malicious, he shows favouritism, he punishes 
needlessly, he doesn't encourage the brighter children in the class, 
he is sadistic (I have never forgiven him for his "I see no 
difference" comment to Hermione, on her teeth - that was extremely 
spiteful and unprofessional)...it goes on and on.  I've said in a 
different post that Snape could do well to learn from Lupin.  Look 
what he achieves from Neville in his very first lesson.

I also remember you writing that perhaps Snape should not modify his 
teaching method to accommodate Neville.  His job is to teach 
everyone, and to help each pupil reach their potential.  I find it 
hard to believe that he bothers about this as far as Neville is 
concerned.  I also expect that there are plenty of other pupils out 
there who are as bad at potions as Neville and are treated as badly - 
this is Harry's POV after all and these are the only potions lessons 
we are privy to.

I read your comments about your English teacher with interest.  I had 
a history teacher similar, who would deliberately put me down, 
firstly, because my father taught at the same school and she was 
determined not to show favouritism, and secondly because, like 
Hermione, I was a grade A, know-it-all pupil who found it difficult 
to make friends, and I'm sure she thought that I needed taking down a 
peg or too.  She is now one of my closest friends.  Everyone was 
terrified of her, everyone did extremely well in her classes because 
they were forced to work, but she also knew when to praise and  
encourage people and knew how to get the best out of them.

What I am trying to say, is that there is a difference between a 
mean, but good teacher, who knows how to get the best out of their 
students, and someone who is simply just mean.  Snape's meanness 
serves absolutely no purpose at all, except to intimidate the 
students he dislikes and I think that his overall teaching method is 
potentially destructive.

Catherine