Question for Snape Bashers

[darrin_burnett]

No: HPFGUIDX 102413

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Shaun Hately" <drednort at a...> 
wrote:
> On 22 Jun 2004 at 2:58, darrin_burnett wrote:
> 
> > Regardless, I'd like to see explanations from the Snape 
apologists as 
> > to why it's an effective teaching tool to belittle a student in 
front 
> > of other teachers in other classes.
> 
> 
> It depends on the motivation behind it. If the intent is to 
> persuade the student to modify their behaviour by creating a 
> situation they don't like, and will not want to experience a repear 
> of it, then doing this in front of others can be a highly effective 
> teaching tool.


Pg 100 UK version, PoA:

"Perhaps no one has warned you, Lupin, but this class contains 
Neville Longbottom. I would advise you not to entrust him with 
anything difficult. Not unless Miss Granger is hissing instructions 
in his ear."

This, of course, is in reference to Hermione helping Neville with 
Potions, an act which Snape has already punished Gryffindor house 
for. (Five points off.)

Snape then prepares to leave, leaving Lupin to deal with humiliated, 
angry and distracted students. Yeah, that's effective team teaching.

So I suppose you could argue that Snape was wanting to reinforce 
the "Don't help him, Hermione," lesson, but guess what? This is 
Lupin's class and Lupin can run it how he wants. He can even have 
Hermione tutor Neville in class downtime if he wants.

Snape can save the reinforcement for his own class.

Lupin comments that Neville will indeed be given the first task and 
expresses confidence in him. And as we see, Neville succeeds, which 
may be, without poring over canon, the first real academic success we 
see Neville have outside of Herbology.

Which goes to show that sometimes a kind teacher's methods work too.

> I'm not saying I approve of the practice in general, because I 
> don't (I think there can be very specific circumstance where it may 
> be justified) - but it certainly can be highly effective.

The only way I can possibly think of that this would be justified is 
if the teachers worked something out beforehand and had a bad 
cop/good cop routine going, something I have a hard time believing 
Snape and Lupin would be able to work together enough to do.

Otherwise, Snape is out of bounds and Lupin, effective teacher that 
he is, uses it to help Neville and the rest of the class.

Ask any teacher how he or she feels about a colleague interrupting 
his or her class to slam one of the students and I think you'll get 
an answer that doesn't justify Snape.

Darrin
-- Justifying Snape? Not a very good band name.