[HPforGrownups] What if Snape does not have to maintain any cover?

[Shaun Hately]

No: HPFGUIDX 101562

On 16 Jun 2004 at 2:39, dumbledore11214 wrote:

> Here is the question I want to ask Snape apologists. :o)

I'm not sure if I'm a Snape apologist or not, but I do defend some 
things he does, so I'll answer (even though it's after midnight and 
I need sleep...)
 
> Suppose, we will learn later in the books  that Snape never went back 
> to spying  since he started teaching at Hogwarts. Personally I always 
> thought that whatever mission Dumbledore gave him at the end of GoF 
> was not spying or at least not spying in its conventional sence. It 
> would be too simple.
> 
> Suppose it is a given that whatever Snape is doing for the Order is 
> of totally different nature, that he does not have to go back to 
> Voldie, EVER.
> 
> Now, if every Death Eater kid knows already that Snape is a traitor 
> and Snape does not have to keep appearances, would you still feel 
> that what Snape does to Neville and Harry is justifiable?

As justifiable as it ever was.

Snapes job as a teacher is to teach his pupils as effectively as he 
can. I honestly believe Snape does this in most cases - Neville is 
the possible exception, but I'm inclined to think Snapes methods 
are effective with Neville as long as Snape isn't the one examining 
Neville (ie, I think Neville does learn what Snape teaches, he's 
just not able to show Snape).

While it may certainly be argued (and I'm not saying I agree, just 
that it can be argued) that in general other methods might be 
better than Snapes, the real question IMHO is could *Snape* teach 
as effectively using another method? I find it hard to believe that 
Snape would be as effective a teacher if he had to force himself to 
be kind and patient, etc. I think Snape is probably teaching in the 
best way he knows how.

And that is the measure that counts. There are many different 
methods of teaching - some better than others - and in some cases, 
a teacher may be so much better at using an otherwise less than 
optimal method, that that for that teacher, it's the best way.

Is Snape as good a teacher as McGonnagal? No. But is Snape-the-
Cruel more effective than Snape-the-Kind would be? I think that is 
very possible.


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