OoP: Snape as teacher

[Michael Vaccian]

No: HPFGUIDX 66976

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The Pet slyths would, indeed, make a great band name.

Regarding Snape's teaching methods: they aren't as sound as one would 
like, but he's not the first teacher to use fear as motivation. As 
pointed out, students do pass OWLS & NEWTS, and I reckon not only 
Slyths do well, but he does clearly enjoy his petty torments. 
Methinks he's rather foolish to vent his dislike on students (which 
he plainly does with regards to Harry); and there is something to be 
said for the way he just shrugs off the failures of the likes  of 
Crabbe & Doyle, while coming down on Gryffindor students like a ton 
of bricks. 

Still, he draws the line somewhere... threatening Crabbe with a 
unfavorable job reference if he suffocates Nellville, so he can't be 
all that bad. ;)

My reading on it? He's a *great* potions master, who succeeds at 
teaching despite himself. 

And call me crazy, but I think there is a specific reason why DD 
keeps Snape out of the DADA job. It does seem like there is a "curse" 
of sorts when it comes to the position (though one might argue that 
DD's choices played an integral part...). I can't put my finger on 
it, but the books mention it too specifically for it to be one of 
DD's whims.