What's wrong with being bad ?

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 102015

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Shaun Hately" <drednort at a...> 
wrote:


Alla wrote previously:
> 
> > 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.
>

Shaun:

> 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.



Shaun:
 
> "'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).



Alla:


How much does the students' performance reflects on him? I am 
inclined to think that Dumbledore will keep him at school regardless, 
because his initial reasons for keeping Snape as  ateacher have 
nothing to do with the teaching itself, but with the fight against 
Voldemort.

I want to believe that no matter how stupid Dumbledore is, he would 
have never allowed Snape to teach if the threat of Voldie coming back 
was not in the air.


Shaun:
 
> 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.


Alla:


Oh, he is passionate about his subject, that I have no doubt about. 
At the same time he belittles his students throughout this speech, so 
no matter how passionate he is about Potions, I don't think he wants 
to pass the knowledge to the next generation. :o)


Shaun:

> 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?


Alla: What do you mean by "passing that up?" To Dumbledore? If yes, 
then yes, I can unfortunately. What did JKR say why dumbledore keeps 
Snape? teach lessons about dealing with nasty people? (paraphrase)

I do see Dumbledore giving Snape a certain cart blanche and observing 
how students would react.

Does not add to my respect of Dumbledore, but I think that it is 
plausible.


Alla