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

[Shaun Hately]

No: HPFGUIDX 101972

On 19 Jun 2004 at 4:25, dumbledore11214 wrote:

> Here is my main problem with Snape's teaching method, Shaun. I don't 
> believe that he is doing it to Gryffs because he wants them to learn. 
> I don't . I think he enjoys tormenting them, because he can. I would 
> probbaly be a little more tolerant to him, if I thought hat he wants 
> Gryffs to do well, but I don't think so.

You could be right - but I am inclined to think he wants them to do 
well, for three reasons.

The first is that their performance *does* reflect on him. The OWLs 
and the NEWTs are externally assessed.

"'Before we beging today's lesson,' said Snape, sweeping over to 
his desk and staring around at them all, 'I think it appropriate to 
remind you that next June you will be sitting an important 
examination, during which you will prove how much you have learned 
about the composition and use of magical potions. Moronic though 
some of this class undoubtedly are, I expect you to scrape an 
"Acceptable" in your OWL, or suffer my... displeasure.'....

'But we have another year to go before that happy moment of 
farewll,' said Snape softly, 'so, whether or not you are intending 
to attempt NEWT, I advise all of you to concentrate your efforts on 
maintaining the high pass level I have come to expect from my OWL 
students.'" (OotP, p209,210).

The second is that Snape seems passionate about his subject - and I 
can't see him wanting his students to take it less than seriously.

"'You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion 
making,' he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they 
caught every word - like Professor McGonagall, Snapre had the gift 
of keeping a class silent without effort. 'As there is little 
foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is 
magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the 
softly simmering cauldron, with its shimmering fumes, the delicate 
power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the 
mind, ensnaring the senses... I can teach you how to bottle fame, 
brew glory, even stopper death - if you aren't as big a bunch of 
dunderheads as I usually have to teach.'" (PS, p102).

That speech gives me the impression that Snape *wants* those 
students who have the talent to see what he sees in potions, to 
develop that skill. He wants them to learn.

Thirdly - even if Snape's only real motivation is to torment his 
students, teaching them legitimises that torment. Pushing them to 
learn gives him an excuse to torment them if he wants to. Could you 
see Snape passing that up?


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