[HPforGrownups] Teaching styles (was - An intro, and a long letter...)

[Iggy McSnurd]

No: HPFGUIDX 81536

From: "Laura Ingalls Huntley" >
> First of all: Welcome!

Thanks... Glad to be here.

(Bows and sweeps his jester's cap of amid a loud jingling of bells.)

>Second of all, I hope you know you have just
> made a highly debatable assertion.  I will not argue that Snape is
> (most likely) a superb potions brewer.  However, as I'm sure you've
> experienced in your own education, just because a teacher may be
> brilliant in their field, does NOT mean they can *teach*.  Snape, IMO,
> is a prime example of this.  I would consider him a *terrible* teacher.
>   Not only are his methods biased and unfair, but severely *impair* the
> learning of students such as Neville.  And he doesn't *care*.  As far
> as I'm concerned, I like a teacher who likes teaching.  Period.

Personally, I feel he is still a very compitent teacher.

While I disagree with how he treats some of his students (I had a social
studies teacher in high school for four long semesters who treated me much
like Snapes treats Neville and Harry combined...  A truly horrific
experience...), he does impart the required knowledge to the vast majority
of his class.

The only people you really see being prejudiced against are Neville (because
of his complete lack of potions talent), Harry (because of Snape's hatred of
him), Ron, and occasionally Hermione (both primarily due to their
association with Harry.)  Not that this makes it right by any means.

I have had a number of teachers who were complete jerks, but knew their
subject and taught the information well.  I have also known a number of
friendly, but barely compitent teachers.  Given my choice between the two,
I'd rather have the former.

(Of course, given my ultimate choice, I agree that McGonigall would be an
ideal teacher.  Knoes her subject to a "T", imparts the knowledge well, and
honestly cares about her students.)

>
> Now, there are those on this list *coughs, looks pointedly at some of
> you*  who argue that Snape's style of teaching is a tried and true
> method from bygone (and much better, mind you) era.  While this may be
> so, I still cannot fathom more than a small percentage of students
> *thriving* under the kind of treatment he gives the Gryffindors.  The
> rest, well...perhaps they learn some kind of "life lesson" *resists
> urge to roll eyes*.

Ultimately, I think it's a dice roll... Just as there are many types of
students and teachers, finding the perfect combination is a toss up.  After
all, I'm sure that McGonigall may even treat the Slytherins a bit
differently than she treats the Gryffindors... It's just not nearly so
extreme and you don't see it in the books.

I've actually seen a number of students do exceedingly well under that
teacher who treated me so abominably.  (Fortunately, I found out a few years
after I was out of high school, that the other teachers in her department
banded together and not only got her dismissed from the school, but also
banned from teaching at any school in the county.)


Iggy McSnurd
the Prankster...