Is Snape confident?

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 86260

<snip>
> > Nora wrote:
> > But that actually doesn't address the second paragraph; the more 
> > general assertion that Snape isn't the type to deal well with 
> being 
> > challenged.  Try as I might, I can't envision him doing well in a 
> > classroom where the kids actually get to ask questions and work 
> > through ideas in a more substantial way.  He seems to enjoy making 
> > things personal unnecessarily.
> 
> June wrote:
> Yeah, sure he wouldn't sit well in the British state school system 
> today, where kids sit around tables and work in groups. Snape and 
> Hogwarts belong to an older version of UK education where kids sit 
> in rows of desks facing the teacher and listening to the teacher 
> teach.  The sort of education system that I grew up in.  
> Essentially, argument only happened in the sixth form (and then 
> under carefully controlled situations!) - that's age 17 and 18. 

Carol:
I'm wondering what kind of argument students could present in a
potions class, in which the chief order of business seems to be
following step by step directions and turning in the best potion
you're capable of producing at the end of the session. I can just see
Hermione or anyone else suggesting a substitute ingredient or arguing
that there's no practical application for a shrinking potion and
arguing that they should do a hair-straightening potion instead. Now
if they had a course in witch/wizard literature, they could defend
their own interpretations. But I don't see much room for argument or
discussion in any magic-based class, whether its potions or charms or
transfiguration. The theory of potions, anybody?
 
June wrote:
> Seminar type argument belonged exclusively to University teaching at 
> that time.  And I got to know some rather Snapey type Professors at 
> Uni too.  Debate or no debate, they could tear you to shreds if you 
> were unprepared.  

Carol:
Assuming that it's possible to debate potions theory, I imagine that
Snape, with his vast knowledge and contempt for "dunderheads," would
do exactly that.
 
BTW, June, I agree with all your Snape-related points but at the
moment have almost nothing to add, so I regretfully snipped them.
Great assessment of his behavior in the Shrieking Shack scene, in
which in addition to all his personal resentment of Sirius, he
honestly believes him to be a murderer. I think that a person like
Snape, who has to keep so much anger under control so much of the
time, would indeed erupt in fury under such circumstances. Also, as
someone else mentioned, it's commendable that he put the unconscious
Sirius on a stretcher rather than bobbing him around so that his head
hit the ceiling as Sirius did with him. I suppose he thought he had
everything under control so he was his normal self at that moment.

Carol