[HPforGrownups] Re: Snape's grading may not be fair, but...

[The Crashing Boar]

No: HPFGUIDX 74911


  From: marinafrants 
  <<snip>>
  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
  -------------

  On the other hand, he was considered by everyone to be a squib until his uncle took the extreme action of throwing him out of a window to force Neville into a magical act.  He may have a nack for DADA as well as Herbology, but it does seem that he needs a heavy hand at times.  

  I'm not in complete agreement with the methods Snape uses in class, but without any kind 'performance' chart or other comparison that shows his students to do better, worse or the same as under a different teacher, we cannot say it is inherently bad or unsuccessful.  A friendlier, less stressful approach may have resulted in fewer ruined cauldrons, but would someone like Neville just give up and fade into the background if all he had to fear was a disappointed glance rather than an angry and disapproving teacher?

  Dawn


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