[HPforGrownups] Re: Teaching Potions/ DADA slight

[Edblanning at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 33033

Elizabeth writes:

>Margaret, Judy, Pippin, and others have all leapt to the defense of 
>Snape, pointing out that teachers don't make potions either, that the 
>Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students don't use potions, and that the 
>market provides ready access to pre-made potions, so why would anyone 
>bother to make their own?

A good question, but judging from Filch's Quikspell bumph, potion-making 
seems to be something one is expected to be competant at.

Elizabeth again:
> > But I still don't think [Snape]'s a good teacher.... I
> > evaluate this by the lack of evidence that any of his students are
> > learning much about potions except Hermione, and since she does so
> > much self-study, I'm not sure we can count her. 

I don't think there's a lot of evidence either way here. I rather assume that 
the majority of students will do OK: they may hate the class and it may have 
nothing to do with Snape's qualities as a teacher, but would you DARE not do 
your homework thoroughly? ...and knowing he might try out your potion/ 
antidote on you must induce a certain amount of concentration.

The thing that for me disqualifies him from any claim to being a *good* 
teacher is his attitude to Neville. To my mind a *good* teacher is one who 
encourages, who *draws out* the abilities of his students (the root meaning 
of education). Neville IMHO, should be good at Potions. It doesn't involve 
the "foolish wand waving" and harnessing of his magical powers required by 
some of the other disciplines. Isn't it significant that he seems to be quite 
good at Herbology which seems to share these same characteristics? When 
Neville's shrinking potion turns orange, he is able to correct it following 
Hermione's instructions, yet he can't follow Snape's. Professor Sprout's 
success with Neville, I think, shows that she is a true teacher, whereas 
Snape drains confidence like a dementor drains happiness.

To add my own teacher reminiscences, I had a history mistress who was rather 
like McGonagall. We were all scared of her. She was very strict, but she was 
fair. You didn't dare do sloppy work for her....and we all loved her. On the 
other hand, I have been put in positions where I have been turned into a 
complete lump of jelly by one or two people less educationally qualified than 
my self but in positions of authority who have decided that I am an idiot. 

Now I have to say here that I agree wholeheartedly with a number of recent 
postings analysing Snape's character in terms of insecurity, low self- esteem 
etc. In this light, his treatment of this poor, insecure child is one of the 
things I find hardest to forgive him.Thinking about it now (and wanting to 
find a reason to excuse him), perhaps it is this insecurity that he can't 
stand: the faults we find hardest to cope with in others are often those we 
share with them. Nonetheless, a good teacher needs to rise above this.

Chris says: (Re DADA)

>Percy says Snape's been after his job 
>for years, implying that Quirrell has been in the position for more than one 

Forgive me if I'm wrong and Percy says this somewhere else, but I think this 
is a quote from the film (I certainly remember that precise wording in the 
aformentioned celluloid- that - must - not - be - named). I looked this up 
the other day in pursuit of another theory and at the feast in PS/SS Percy 
just says,
        'everyone knows he's after Quirrell's job'

The reason I was checking - and I know no-one's going to agree with this as 
from what I've read the concensus seems to be that Snape hasn't been many 
years at Hogwarts- was that it crossed my mind to wonder whether the six 
previous years of Slytherin winning the House Cup coincided with the length 
of time he had been there, cavalierly favouring his own house and penalising 
the others. If he had been there that bit longer, might it not make his being 
head of house more probable?? 




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]