Snape as teacher

[Lyda Clunas]

No: HPFGUIDX 17044

Lea wrote:

>>"Lyda Clunas" <lydaclunas at x> wrote:
(Some excellent thoughts, but I will confine this reply to the actual 
question of Snape´s teaching methods)

> >> But we all learned with amazing efficacy. Being a "mean" teacher 
> doesn't necessarily equate to being a "bad" teacher.<<
> >>I think this is so true of Snape--admittedly, it's not the right 
> approach for Neville. We teach the way we learn. 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. Assuming 
> Snape was an above average student, one who cottoned on pretty 
> quickly and didn't need a lot of minute direction, he's going to 
> teach that way, and assume that anyone who can't do it like that is 
> a "dunderhead." <<

Yes... only, I didn't write those particular snippets! :) I can't 
remember exactly what I said, come to think of it, but I believe I 
also replied to the above post which you so kindly (but mistakenly) 
attributed to me. :)

Lea writes more:

<big huge hunking snip>

>>So I think the question of Snape´s teaching qualifications and 
qualities should be settled - there are none, that´s all.<<

And Rebecca replied:

>>I disagree.  Agreed that Snape is not a nice person.  He's cruel to 
his students, he bullies and terrifies them, and he certainly does 
not create a positive learning atmosphere in his classroom.  However, 
this is not the same as being a bad teacher. A teacher's job is to 
teach -- that is, to impart knowledge to the students. If a teacher 
possesses thorough knowledge of the subject he is required to teach, 
and is capable of expressing that knowledge to his students in a way 
that they can understand, and if as a result those students are able 
to demonstrate that they have learned the skills required of them, 
then that teacher is qualified.<<

I'm afraid I must completely side with Rebecca here. I think Snape, 
as simply a teacher, is probably one of Hogwarts' best. He knows the 
information, and he delivers it to the students efficiently, for the 
most part. He doesn't view his job as "professor" to also 
include "mentor, role model, and best friend"; he just teaches the 
material. If a kid "gets it", OK, great, move on. If a kid 
doesn't "get it", too bad, you fail, move on. He doesn't easily 
tolerate people goofing off; the classroom for Snape is simply a 
place to receive and use knowledge, and he is the bearer of that 
knowledge. Nothing more, nothing less. 

>> Does Snape have a thorough knowledge of his subject?  
Undoubtedly.  Is he able to express that knowledge clearly and 
effectively to his students?  If you look at his opening speech in 
SS, he's positively eloquent.  Do his students learn?  Well, as 
others have pointed out, Hermione & Co. made a Polyjuice potion in 
their second year -- no mean feat -- and even Neville manages to get 
a passing grade on his Potions exams.  So obviously they are learning 
*something*, regardless of whether or not they enjoy the experience.<<

Exactly. Obviously, he does know what he's doing. Does he enjoy it? 
That could only be truly answered if JKR gave us a chapter in Snape's 
POV; I personally think he does enjoy some aspects of the job; i.e., 
the authority he has, and the fact that he has the ability to mold 
these "idle" teenagers into powerful witches and wizards. That 
doesn't necessarily mean he likes the kids (I don't believe he really 
likes young people in general), but I think he probably has some 
satisfaction in transferring his vast knowledge to them.

More from Rebecca:

>>It is no doubt true that some of Snape's students would learn more, 
and learn better, if they were not terrified of him.  Some students 
find that a high-pressure, demanding atmosphere interferes with their 
ability to learn. On the other hand, other students actually learn 
*better* in such an atmosphere, even though they may hate it.  The 
history of learning is full of examples of harsh taskmasters who 
drove their students to excellence.<<

It is not Snape's style to give that warm, fuzzy, "everyone's a 
winner" atmosphere in the classroom. Some children fail, some do only 
all right, others excel. Snape has no time (nor interest) to be the 
loving, caring teacher for all the Nevilles in his classes. He's 
harsh, because he 1) doesn't suffer fools well 2) doesn't believe in 
all that mushy-mentor stuff. (Remember, this is a man who would 
appear to distances himself emotionally from others. Especially 
students, I would think.) It seems that Snape views the best way to 
teach as drilling the information into students, and making them work 
for their grades. For Snape, this teaching method also 
includes "waspish remarks" that, yes, might could be done away with, 
but, IMO, is just another way of his maintaining order and authority, 
and of getting his point across to the "dunderheads". 

Ever seen the movie "Stand and Deliver"? Escalante is kind of a cross 
between Snape and Lupin, no? He makes those kids work, he doesn't let 
them off easy, and he often makes quiet but rather "waspish" remarks, 
like Snape. However, he also rewards and encourages them, like Lupin.

Even more from Rebecca:

>>If you really want to talk about "no teacher at all", look at 
somebody like Gilderoy Lockhart.  Very nice, very polite, very 
attractive, and liked by many of his students (albeit for superficial 
reasons).  What did he actually know about DADA?  Nothing.  What did 
he teach his students?  Nothing. Whatever they learned that year was 
*in spite of* Lockhart rather than because of him.  Even in his worst 
moments, that could never be said of Snape.<<

Yup. Gilderoy says it all himself:

"Am I a professor?" said Lockhart in mild surprise. "Goodness, I 
expect I was hopeless, was I?" (pg. 331, American ed.)

And hopeless he was indeed. Snape muses on how behind the students 
are in DADA when he substitutes for Lupin in PoA; teachers like 
Lockhart are the reason they are not "up to speed" in the class. But 
in Snape's class, they advance quite well. Because Snape is *never* 
hopeless; he's an effective teacher, even if he might not give a damn 
about the kids' emotional welfare or happiness in his class. At least 
they're learning the stuff they're supposed to know.

Lyda