Drill Sargeant (with a tiny bit of ontopic talk...)

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 94738

Siriusly Snapey Susan:
> > Hmmmm.  Maybe *that's* part of what I'm struggling with!  If 
> > Snape is as brilliant as I think he is, why isn't he able to see 
> > that his methods AREN'T helping Neville & Harry to learn & to 
> > perform under pressure?  If he cares about The Order and 
> > defeating Voldy--as I believe he does--then why isn't he re-
> > evaluating his technique with Harry & Neville?

jujube: 
> Perhaps because he knows that if Harry and Neville can't stand up 
> to him at Hogwarts, if they can't perform under his gaze and 
> insults, if they can't pay attention long enough to prepare his 
> potion assignments correctly, if they can't marshall their fear 
> and anger when they are frazzled, startled, or upset, then they 
> don't stand a chance of defeating Voldemort?

Siriusly Snapey Susan:
I do believe we're all beginning to talk in circles on this topic. :-
) My big thing with this is that I think a teacher can get away w/ 
pressuring & really high expectations if there is *trust* from the 
beginning.  I think if there is no trust, if the main student 
reaction from day one is fear or anger [vs. respect or trust], then 
the student may "freeze" or "lock" and not learn as effectively as 
they can.  So what I'm offering is that if Snape had TONED IT DOWN 
at the beginning--LET Harry & Neville gain a little confidence and 
get some lessons under their belts--THEN, if Snape felt the best way 
to teach these two to handle the pressure would be to really turn UP 
the pressure, then okey-dokey.  But you've got to give the kids a 
taste of success or a sense that they want to/can succeed before you 
do so.  At least when you're talking about 11- or 12-year-olds.  
IMHO, of course. ;-) 

At this point many of us are sharing our *own* experiences as either 
teacher or student or drill sergeant or trainee in order to explain 
our position.  Because I taught and worked w/ this age group I 
believe a certain thing.  Because someone else taught or was in the 
military and learned a different way, he/she believes a different 
thing.  I'm not sure we're ever going to come closer together on 
this one....

> jujube (who is going to be extremely disappointed if, in book 7, 
> Snape is revealed as a truly kindly soul, who wears daisies in his 
> hair and confesses he felt "just awful" all of those years and 
> would have much rather have been singing happy songs instead all 
> that time)

Siriusly Snapey Susan:
Oh, good lord, I hope not, too!  I want Sevvie to live, and I don't 
want him to be 100% miserable for the rest of his life, and I'd like 
to see a little bit of his ability to care, but I'd never want to be 
told that ALL this sarcastic nastiness was an act!  I'm w/ you on 
that much at least.  Oh--but I wouldn't mind if he learned to wash 
his hair more often, either.  <g>

Siriusly Snapey Susan