[HPforGrownups] Snape as new DADA teacher (was "New Dark Arts Teacher")

[Robert A. Rosenberg]

No: HPFGUIDX 69812

At 15:39 -0600 on 07/10/2003, michelle.pagan at colorado.edu wrote about 
[HPforGrownups] Snape as new DADA teacher (was "New Dark Ar:

>You know...as we've seen, Neville does much better than expected when he
>doesn't have Snape criticizing him...I wonder if Dumbledore might be wrong and
>Snape might actually thrive teaching DADA?

Neville's performance shows that he not only knows the subject but 
can apply his knowledge IF he is not being prevented by being too 
nervous due to Snape's constant criticism and belittling. Even Harry 
is having problems performing with Snape leaning over his shoulder. 
The stress of taking the exam is enough without the added stress of 
Snape's presence in the Testing Area.

Given the critical nature of learning DADA, I do not think that Snape 
is a good choice due to his teaching style (only getting an aptitude 
adjustment would, IMO, put him in the running). I accept that he is 
probably the best candidate (ignoring any question of if being 
ALLOWED to teach it is good for HIM) to TEACH the course (even better 
than Harry since he is more knowledgeable in the subject) but his 
teaching style argues against him since DADA needs someone who can 
not only TRAIN (something that I acknowledge he is qualified to do) 
the students but be supportive of their efforts to learn the subject. 
Screwing up the creation of a Potion (in most cases) is not 
life-threatening - Blowing a DADA Spell in a Battle IS.

The best solution IMO would be to make Harry a Teaching Assistant who 
ran the Practical (Lab) Portion of the DADA Course (with Snape out of 
the room although possibly monitoring it for purposes of grading) 
while Snape only TAUGHT the course (ie: Lectured). This is not that 
out of the realm of possibility since I know of a number of courses 
where a Professor gives the Lectures while one of his Teaching 
Assistants runs the Lab Sessions.

At 03:06 +0000 07/12/2003, melclaros wrote about [HPforGrownups] Re: 
Snape as new DADA teacher (was "New Dar:

>At 19:13 -0500 07/11/2003, jazmyn wrote about Re: [HPforGrownups] 
>Snape as new DADA teacher (was "New Dar:
>
>>One wonders what grade Neville got in his Potions O.W.L.?  Snape might
>>have a heart attack if Neville turned up in his NEWT classes.. Or would
>>Neville have a nervous breakdown if he got a O in potions?
>
>LOL Poor Neville. Fortunately it's optional. Even if he gets an O he
>wouldn't be required to go to NEWT potions (I don't think)

He would only be required to take NEWT Potions if it was a 
requirement for his chosen career path.

>But this *NEW IMPROVED Neville--NOW with is OWN WAND!* Might just feel ready
>to take Snape on. Who knows?

I agree. Even if it is not a required course for his chosen career 
path, he might still take it as a way of getting back for the 5 years 
of harassment that he had from Snape (who obviously did a good job of 
TRAINING/TEACHING Neville but was less than supportive of him when 
Neville tried to USE the knowledge).

>
>Melpomene

At 01:11 +0000 07/10/2003, Steven wrote about [HPforGrownups] Re: New 
Dark Arts Teacher:
>Personally, I would like to see Lupin back as DADA. It would be so
>satisfying that the man who was rejected out of petty prejudice is
>back, because of need. After all, isn't he the most qualified? I also
>see him encouraging the DA meetings. I'm also curious as to how many
>of DA members received outstanding in their DADA OWLs.


Now that LV has OFFICIALLY been acknowledged to have returned, I 
think that DD can leverage the situation to overcome any residual 
resistance to Lupin (an acknowledged Werewolf) as a teacher. Now that 
DADA is no longer a throw-away theoretical course that any 
semi-qualified teacher can teach but one with an IMMEDIATE practical 
purpose/need-to-learn, Lupin's Werewolf nature is (or at least SHOULD 
BE) of much less importance to the Parents than his ability to teach 
DADA and prepare their children to defend themselves from LV.

At 03:34 +0000 07/10/2003, Rach wrote about [HPforGrownups] Re: New 
Dark Arts Teacher:
>I wonder if Umbridge's Anti Werewolf Legislation would make this
>impossible, even if Dumbledore did ask Lupin back to teach.

That depends on how much credibility she still has with Fudge. A 
simple demand that she undergo the Truth Potion in Fudge's presence 
would bring out the fact that she had put out a "Dementor Contract" 
on Harry. This is assuming that she has not had a complete nervous 
breakdown from her time with the Centaurs. I seem to remember that 
her Anti-Werewolf Legislation was still in the proposed state not an 
accomplished fact.

>On a similar thought track, I wonder if Prof. Flitwick will give
>Harry duelling lessons now that it is likley he will be needing them
>more and more! I seem to remember a mention in CoS that he was
>Duelling Champion.

I agree. Harry needs all the training he can get.

At 17:05 +0000 07/10/2003, tiger_queen429 wrote about [HPforGrownups] 
Re: New Dark Arts Teacher:
>I would also like to see Harry be the new DADA teacher, but i do not
>think that that would even be an option until his seventh year. The
>one thing that Harry does not know yet, but would need to know is the
>unforgiveable curses that Moody/Crouch Jr said would be learned in
>the sixth year. After his duel with Bella, it is clear that Harry
>does not know how to use them yet. What I want to happen (and this is
>just my wishful thinking as i doubt it will come true) is that Harry
>teach the first through sixth years while either Dumbledore or Snape
>teaches the seventh years.

As I suggested above, let him teach the Lab session while Snape or 
Dumbledore does the Lecture session. Play to their strengths. Snape 
is a great TEACHER/LECTURER - He just falls-down/fails in the LAB 
(application of the training) area.

At 17:40 +0000 07/10/2003, hedge2staxy wrote about [HPforGrownups] 
Re: New Dark Arts Teacher:
>Me:
>I still think that Dumbledore has to give the post to Snape
>eventually (JKR has made it clear that he has wanted it for so long)
>and that now is probably a good time.  It's a new territory for
>conflict between Harry and Snape and will give Harry mixed feelings
>about his easiest subject.  The conflict over Occulemency (sp?) was
>a good transition into this even more challenging relationship
>between Harry and Snape (I didn't think it was possible!).  Through
>further DADA work, I think Harry will discover the keys to Snape's
>mysterious past.  I'm hoping for an eventual bonding moment, but
>that my just be too much to ask for-mutual understanding, perhaps?


I think that making Snape the new DADA Instructor (ie: Lecturer) with 
Harry as his Lab Assistant (as I've suggested above would kill) would 
allow Dumbledore to kill two birds with one stone. It allows Snape to 
finally get his wish to teach DADA while making him work with Harry 
(and vice versa) and give the students the best learning environment 
possible - Someone to Teach them the Subject (Snape) and someone to 
support and assist them in applying what they have been taught 
(Harry). Dumbledore can say to Snape "You want the Job - It's Yours 
IF you let Harry run your Lab Sessions for you". Pointing at 
Neville's Potion performance (assuming that he got an E or O) would 
provide the ammo to justify this procedure.


--

Bob Rosenberg