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

[Barbara D. Poland-Waters]

No: HPFGUIDX 102147

> Dreadnought wrote:
>
> > Well, no, because I don't think treating the Gryffindors in the
> > same way he treats the Slytherins would necessarily be the most
> > effective way of teaching the Gryffindors.
>
> Kyntor replies:
>
> Maybe not, but it can be any worse of a teaching method than the
> rancor he currently uses on them.

>>>Dreadnought wrote:

Yes, it can be, and that's kind of been my point over and over
again. I learned quite well in classes which had teachers who acted
like Snape - far better than I would have in classes where the
teacher let me get away with whatever I liked. And I know a lot of
other people who did as well.

There are far *worse* ways of teaching than those employed by
Snape. I've experienced them.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

bd-bear:

You consistently contrast Snape with teachers who would "let you get away
with whatever you liked." But don't you see a middle ground here? For
example, IMO McGonagall doesn't let the students get away with stuff. She's
very strict, the students know that and yet they respect her. She doesn't
single someone out and verbally attack them or sabotage their work. (Okay,
she's made snide comments about Neville, she's not perfect.) But she's not
abusive the way Snape is. She doesn't accuse the students of doing things
without proof (or a sufficient chance to explain), she doesn't act like she
has a vendetta against them, as Snape does with Harry. That is a teacher I
could respect. Maybe I wouldn't LOVE how strict she is, if I was her
student, but I wouldn't think she was unfair or abusive, which is what I
think Snape is.

Also, with all due respect, just because there are worse ways of teaching,
in your opinion, does NOT justify Snape's methods of teaching. I grant you
this is the WW, and JKR wrote things this way for a purpose, which is why I
don't get in these debates much. But I am alarmed when I read your posts as
it seems you are advocating some excessively harsh teaching methods. Really
none of us on this list know what you went through or can say what did and
didn't work for you. We can only speak to the HP world, and as far as that
world goes, Snape DOES abuse Harry and Neville, he DOES disrespect them, he
DOES unfairly punish them and that is what a lot of people are reacting to.
I personally can't see how anybody with a real-live Snape-like teacher could
benefit from that.

Barbara
bd-bear