Snape as teacher

[lea.macleod at gmx.net]

No: HPFGUIDX 17061

Rebecca wrote:
A galant defense of Snape´s teaching qualities, to which

Lyda answered 
just as galantly.

Catherine (I think!) said she had the feeling this discussion wasn´t 
ended by my provocative

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

and it wasn´t! As if I wanted it to! ;-)

So here goes:

> 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.<< (that´s Rebecca´s, I think).

 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. (that´s Lyda agreeing).

Rebecca again:
 The 
> history of learning is full of examples of harsh taskmasters who 
> drove their students to excellence.<<

And Lyda:
> It is not Snape's style to give that warm, fuzzy, "everyone's a 
> winner" atmosphere in the classroom.  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. It seems that Snape views the best way 
toteach as drilling the information into students, and making them 
work for their grades. 


Yes, yes, you´re absolutely right there, you two! Those are excellent 
analyses of his methods and of the policy behind them.

But still, two questions for me remain unanswered, and as long as they 
do, I don´t see how I can ever admit that Snape *is* a teacher (in the 
sense of having the right personality for it, not in the sense of an 
exact job description, honestly, Sarah!).

1. Does he enjoy it?  (Lyda´s words)

No, he doesn´t. Whatever made him come to Hogwarts and whatever made 
him take on the job, he didn´t want it, I´m sure of that. He likes 
imposing his authority on the students, he enjoys letting them feel 
his superiority and power over them, he takes pleasure in confronting 
them with their dunderheadishness, but that´s not the reason he likes 
his job, it´s the thing that makes it bearable for him. 

Above all, Snape is an impatient man. Impatient people don´t make 
teachers, believe me. It´s the main reason why I dropped my own plans 
of becoming one.

2. "I see no difference"

Rebecca explains Snape´s method as "The harsh task master driving his 
students to excellence". That may well be the effect with some 
students. And that gives him a certain right to waspish remarks, to 
harsh criticism, to lots of homework, everything that has to do with 
success or failure in the field of study. (This covers even his cruel 
remarks to Neville, because he criticises Neville´s intellectual 
failures).

But it does not cover that "I see no difference" remark to Hermione in 
GoF. I think we all agree that this was surprisingly cruel even by 
Snape´s usual standards. It is *not* for a teacher to comment 
negatively  on a student´s physical unattractiveness or disability if 
it has nothing to do with his/her academic achievement.

This comment was, as Catherine put it very well a while ago, 
pointlessly cruel and thoroughly unprofessional.

I don´t think, you´ll be able to find an excuse for that. You may find 
an excuse in his character or in his mysterious past or where ever 
else. But it´s his teaching qualities we´re looking into here, and if 
you will find a pedagogical justification for this comment, as you 
have found for most of his other cruelties, please don´t hesitate to 
post it.

Lea