[HPforGrownups] Re: Snape, Harry, Dumbledore, and flaws in the books

[Shaun Hately]

No: HPFGUIDX 105959

On 13 Jul 2004 at 6:41, dzeytoun wrote:

> Does the wizarding world favor Snape's teaching methods?  We only 
> have evidence of ommission, that is that no one complains that we 
> know of.  I would be more convinced if we saw people, even Slytherin 
> parents, actively praising Snape's methods.  Then I would be willing 
> to believe that Dumbledore faces a political block (for instance on 
> the Board of Governors) he might not be able to openly defy.

I hate to quote my own article, but this is the type of issue I 
wrote it for, so...

My view, as I've said before is that Hogwarts fits neatly into the 
traditional British public school model. My reading and research 
posted the other day arrived at the following conclusions:

"It is worth considering here, how Headmasters tended to make their 
decisions as to the appointment of staff members. Many readers 
might think it is obvious that certain Hogwarts teachers have had 
no formalized training as teachers. Historically speaking, this was 
quite common for public school teachers. Public school masters were 
regarded as professionals with knowledge based on a theoretical and 
esoteric knowledge within specific subject areas. Most public 
school teachers had no formalized teaching qualifications, instead 
relying on higher degrees (stereotypically a Master of Arts degree 
from Oxford or Cambridge) to prove they understood their subject 
(Walford, 1984, p.116). Large numbers of public school masters were 
themselves the product of public schools (Bamford, 1967, p.121) – 
something that seems likely to be the case for Hogwarts, if for no 
other reason, than there does not appear to be any other 
opportunities for people to acquire the education they need to 
become qualified in their specialist subjects.  

Specific skills as a teacher, rather than mere knowledge of the 
subject being taught, were regarded as non-essential, though 
valuable if they were present. It was, more or less, assumed that  
pupils would learn if the teacher knew his subject."

Now, my work is certainly challengeable on this - and for that 
matter, every other - point. However, I did research it, I did 
spend a considerable amount of time researching it. And as I've 
outlined, I think Hogwarts fits neatly into a certain model.

And in that model, people often *did* favour Snape's teaching 
methods - or at the very least would have had no problem with them.

Anyone is entitled to disagree with me on any point - in this case 
there seem to be two possible points of disagreement.

(1) that Hogwarts does not fit this model.
(2) that even if Hogwarts does fit the model, my conclusions on the 
likely attitudes to teachers and their skills and methods within 
such a model are inaccurate.

But I think it's valid on both points (obviously) and I've done 
some work to demonstrate why.

I'd be interested if you could outline *why* you think it's even 
likely enough that the methods are frowned upon for us to be  
seriously considering the possibility that they might be.

You ask for evidence that the wizarding world favours Snape's 
methods - I suppose in my question is where is your evidence that 
it doesn't?

Are you basing this merely on the way you personally think schools 
*should* be (which is, of course, a perfectly valid point of view 
on many levels) or do you really feel there's some specific reason 
to think such methods are at all likely to be frowned on in the 
wizarding world?

We don't see active praise of Snape's methods - except maybe a 
rather lukewarm endorsement by Umbridge.

But we also don't seem to see active criticism of such methods - 
except, again, some rather limited comments from dear, dear 
Dolores.

In the absence of any praise or criticism, it seems to me that 
'default position' is one of neutrality - that the safest 
assumption is that there's no general opinion one way or ther 
other.

It's very tricky to make judgements in either direction.


Yours Without Wax, Dreadnought
Shaun Hately | www.alphalink.com.au/~drednort/thelab.html
(ISTJ)       | drednort at alphalink.com.au | ICQ: 6898200 
"You know the very powerful and the very stupid have one
thing in common. They don't alter their views to fit the 
facts. They alter the facts to fit the views. Which can be 
uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that 
need altering." The Doctor - Doctor Who: The Face of Evil
Where am I: Frankston, Victoria, Australia