[HPforGrownups] Re: What if other teachers behaved like Snape?

[Irene]

No: HPFGUIDX 101490

darrin_burnett wrote:

> 
> 
> How does Moody approach the class? He walks in, tells them something 
> good "I've had a letter from Lupin about this class..."

Snape tried to be professional about the lessons, Sirius turned it all 
personal from the beginning. (But that's not the point I was trying to 
make).


> 
> Then, with the stroking over, he drops the hammer, telling them where 
> they are behind.
> 
> Then, he makes a favorable comment to Ron about Arthur before asserts 
> his authority by telling Lavender to stop looking at her astrology 
> chart.
> 
> Nice, harsh, nice, harsh. Cool guy, but in charge.
> 
> Then, at the end of the lesson, Harry witnessed Moody taking Neville 
> under his wing. He is reminded favorably of Lupin.
> 
> Compare that to how Snape's first lesson went and I think you'll see 
> where Snape went wrong.

OK. He gives Harry a theoretical explanation about Legilimency. Tries to 
give him some motivation for studying. Has some difficulties finding the 
right  words - maybe he is severely limited by Dumbledore in what he can 
tell Harry?

Harry interrupts him twice ("Harry did not care if Snape was angry"), 
and says Voldie's name, but still I would say Snape was quite patient 
answering all his questions for 3 pages. Harry's got more useful 
information here than in the whole year up to this point, why can't he 
appreciate it?

Snape then gives him permission to use any spell without repercussions.
Not bad so far, don't you think?
Instruction - it's similar to Imperius, for which you have some 
aptitude. How is it different from Moody mentioning Lupin's letter? Only 
in Harry's attitude.

Snape analyses his first attempt, and tells him exactly how it can be 
improved.

But you know what - maybe it's not Harry's fault after all. He is scared 
to  close the door, he is scared to shut his eyes. It's not working even 
before Snape insulted him, Dumbledore was  crazy to think it could ever 
work.

> 
> He can't teach as well as a lunatic DE! :)

He can teach Potions well enough - they all pass the tests.  :-)

> 
> Seriously, what did Snape tell Harry exactly? He berated Harry for 
> getting it wrong and commented snidely on the memories he was seeing 
> in Harry's head, but he did not tell him to "try to find me through 
> the haze of memories." 

He told Harry to do exactly what he did to stop him seeing Cho memory, 
minus the shouting. Moody  didn't teach him anything extra between 
attempts, Harry was improving through his own feedback.

> 
> You're strengthening, not weakening, my case. A teacher has a great 
> deal to do with how well a student is motivated. Lupin and Moody are 
> excellent motivators, while Snape is a lousy motivator.

Tough. He has the knowledge, Harry should be able to raise above the 
presentation to get to the  content.
At the age of 11 I could cut Snape's pupils some slack, at the age of 15 
it's silly to expect that you'll only learn from nice  people, or from 
people that suit your personal learning style best.

BTW, it was not Lupin's virtues that motivated Harry to learn Patronus,
it was the threat to his position as a quidditch player. To bad Umbridge 
took the quidditch away, maybe Snape could use the same threat Wood had 
used so successfully to motivate Harry. ;-)

And  another thing, about Harry's mind being weaker after the lessons: 
imagine you work out with professional trainer once a week. He expects 
you to practice on your own in between, but you don't. Of course after 
each weekly session your muscles will feel like a jelly instead of 
getting stronger. Must be all trainer's fault.

Irene