Snape's grading may not be fair, but...

[marinafrants]

No: HPFGUIDX 74901

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "The Crashing Boar" 
<crashing.boar at n...> wrote:
> From: marinafrants 
>   Have we ever seen a single student with whom Snape's methods 
>   succeeded?  A single student who started out being bad in 
potions, worked harder in response to Snape's bullying, showed 
improvement and got a better grade <<snip>> I don't believe Snape's 
teaching style works.  Any kid who does well in his class (such as 
Hermione) does it in spite of him, not because.
> 
>   Marina
> 
>   ----------------
> 
>   Yes, actually, we do.  Neville Longbottom, who had never 
betrayed any real magical or academic talent except in Herbology, 
and is a constant 'poor performer'(not just in potions), actually 
passes his potions exam.
> 
>   Dawn

It's not true that Neville has never shown any talent except in 
Herbology.  He did well both in Lupin's DADA class, and in Harry's 
DA lessons.  His competence tends to be proportional to his 
confidence, which Snape has systematically crushed.  Neville is able 
to scrape through his Potions O.W.L. because Snape wasn't there to 
terrify him into failure, not because Snape's bullying has improved 
his potions skills.  How much better might Neville have been if he'd 
been taught potions by a compassionate and encouraging teacher like 
Sprout or Lupin?

Marina
rusalka at ix.netcom.com