More on Snape

[vmonte]

No: HPFGUIDX 102682

HunterGreen wrote:

As for Snape's harping making it hard to do potions, maybe its just
the other way around: Snape's constant pushing (and
criticizing) "toughened" Harry up, making doing potions in Snape's
absense comparatively easier. As in, if he'd had a kindhearted
potions teacher, doing potions on his own could be harder without the
encouragement(of course, the kindhearted teacher might have been
better at building confidence--but the end result is the same).


vmonte responds:

I don't think that these examples of Snape's teaching style are a  
good sign of his teaching methods.  I think that he is a poor 
teacher.  Intimidation, threats, sarcasm, hostility, making fun of 
students, and his rejection of even the students that are prepared 
for class, are signs of a poor teacher.

I think that Dumbledore has, however, placed Snape in the school for 
a specific reason.  HE is the one that is "toughening" up the 
children.  He is training them to be able to deal with this kind of 
person, and negative situations.  He may also be trying to get the 
kids to understand something about Snape (and vice versa). 

If book 6 is when Harry will begin to start learning how to control 
his emotions, he may start to be able to distance himself from 
Snape's abuse, and see him for what he really is. He may also learn 
how to behave around Snape so that he can get the relationship that 
is necessary for the war that is to come. Unfortunately, Harry is 
going to have to do all of the work in this relationship.

vivian