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

[Barbara D. Poland-Waters]

No: HPFGUIDX 101575

>On 15 Jun 2004 at 19:25, Trevor wrote:

> I cannot agree more, however, it is not only Neville that Snape mistreats:
> his behavior to others is awful- a teacher has no right to belittle or to
> call names (calling Hermione a know-it-all in front of the DADA class in
> POA).

>>>From: Shaun Hately [mailto:drednort at alphalink.com.au]

A teacher has no right to do this?

That's an opinion - not a fact. At my school, it was quite clearly
understood that a teacher *did* have a right to belittle students
and to call them names - but *only* in very very specific
circumstances.
. . . But in my case, on the very few occasions (I can think of
two) where a teacher took this approach, it *worked*. It made me
work harder. It really did.<<<

Perhaps this is a cultural thing. I'm in the US and speaking only for my
experience, if any teacher treated me like Snape treats some of his
students, I would definitely NOT have felt motivated to learn or do well. In
fact, in my senior year of high school, I had a math teacher who always
spoke in a patronizing tone to the class as a whole, calling us animals,
making ridiculous jokes. I thought he was awful and that we, although
students and much younger, still deserved respect. In contrast, whenever I
had a teacher who made me feel special or worthwhile or just gave me a
little extra time, I not only wanted to do well for me but also because I
didn't want to let that teacher down. Of course, that might just be more
about my own personal dynamics with authority figures, but I still think
it's more of a cultural thing. I don't think many US teachers would get away
with insulting their students, or openly favoring others (and I wish I could
think of a RW equivalent to taking points of one's "house" but I can't.)

JMO

Barbara
bd-bear