[HPforGrownups] Re: What's wrong with being bad ?

[Shaun Hately]

No: HPFGUIDX 101952

On 18 Jun 2004 at 23:56, kyntor70 wrote:

> Kyntor replies:
> 
> There are really two things about this point of view that bothers me.
> 
> First, I don't really believe that Snape is practicing "ritual 
> humiliation" purely for the benefit of his students.  He seems to 
> enjoy humiliating certain people just entirely too much. 

Yes, and no...

I certainly think that Snape gets pleasure out of humiliating 
people - but that doesn't mean he isn't using it as a teaching 
technique at the same time. It's a happy coincidence for Snape if 
he can do both at once.

> If Snape really was trying to educate his students through the use 
> of "ritual himiliation," wouldn't he be treating the Slytherins the 
> same way.  By not humiliating them, will they still be able to 
> learn?  If the Slytherins can learn without the humilation, then it 
> is not really needed is it.

This isn't really valid.

First of all, we're dealing a school where students are divided 
into houses based on personality traits. Personality is a major 
determinant of whether or not a particular teaching strategy will 
work with particular students.

We see Snape teaching Gryffindors and Slytherins - the fact that 
his strategy differs between the two *could* be a reflection of the 
fact that he acknowledges the different prevailing characteristics 
warrant different teaching methods. Gryffindors - courageous, and 
brave - are probably the least likely to suffer ill effects from 
biting sarcasm and verbal attacks than those less brave would be. 
Slytherins - ambitious - may well learn best in an environment 
where their egos are stroked.

I'm not saying I believe this - I don't. I think Snape treats the 
Slytherin's differently because he is biased in their favour. But 
it's not impossible.

No teacher should be using only *one* strategy to teach.

> Secondly,  if "ritual humiliation" is such a recognized teaching 
> technique in wizarding society at that particular time, then why is 
> this teaching method not used by the other professors.

Because it's *one* recognised teaching strategy - not the only 
recognised teaching strategy. Teachers choose the one that works 
best in their opinion. Like I've said numerous times, I went to a 
school where we did have some very Snape-like teachers, and when 
their methods were considered acceptable (unpalatable but 
acceptable). But the majority of my teachers didn't teach in that 
way. It was perhaps 3 out of the 20 or so teachers I had over the 
years at that school, with another 2 or 3 having occasional Snape- 
like tendencies (ah! I have just realised *why* I liked the movie 
portrayal of Lupin so much! Extremely close to one of my maths 
teachers! I'll have to tell him). They existed - but they were a 
minority.

Hopefully there are very few schools around where all teachers 
teach in the same way - that would be absolutely disastrous for 
anyone who the particular method didn't work for.


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