Snape vs. RW (was: Harry) (was: What if other teachers behaved like Snape?)

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 101399

SSSusan:
> > Del, I'm sure this has been said before in arguments over Snape's 
> > teaching methods, but for some reason it has really struck me 
> > today in your words.  I think you're right.  And I think I am 
> > beginning to understand why Teacher!Snape bothers Jenny and me 
> > and other teachers out there more than he bothers some others:  
> > we teach (or taught) and we can't STAND to see someone who 
> > clearly is an excellent teacher in some ways be such an awful 
> > teacher in other ways.  It hits home harder w/ those of us who've 
> > been there perhaps.  I truly cannot fathom a teacher "getting 
> > away with" what Snape gets away with.  Parents or administrators 
> > would step in.  Students would rebel.  
 
> > But Snape at Hogwarts is not RL.  It's hard to let go of 
> > the, "Well, he SHOULD be able to change" or "He's an adult in a 
> > position of authority & responsibility--it's his JOB to see that 
> > he's effective."  
<snip>  
> > It's harder to step back from it when you've lived it, and the 
> > tendency to compare is strong.  But I'll bet I can enjoy Snape 
> > more if I can manage to do so. :-)
 
 
Potioncat:
> Quick!  Whoever wrote that is using polyjuice!  That cannot be 
> SSSusan!  ;-)  Honestly, I've never seen you so soft on 
> Teacher!Snape.
 


SSSusan:
Ha ha ha!  I'm just trying to see if I can bring Kneasy out to issue 
a congratulatory note to me. ;-)

No, seriously, Del's words truly did hit me differently today that 
other arguments have before.  And, Alla, to answer your question from 
a moment ago about how much slack we should cut Snape, I really don't 
know!!  I suspect I'll waver from moment to moment, depending on the 
mood I'm in.  But I did just realize that maybe I need to set aside 
RL teaching/learning situations a little more and think about the 
magical world as JKR has painted it:  it's got more danger, and it's 
certainly less parental/authority hands-on than what U.S. teenagers 
would be experiencing.  I'm sure I'll still always argue that if 
Snape were a good all-round teacher, he'd evaluate his methods more, 
but I'm shifting away from my vehement "grade abuse" stance of yore.

Or maybe all this change of heart is all just movie contamination, 
since I've watched Rickman!Snape three times in the last 10 days and 
he may be affecting my judgment. <g>

Siriusly Snapey Susan