More on Snape
snow15145
snow15145 at yahoo.com
Fri Jun 25 02:07:52 UTC 2004
No: HPFGUIDX 102762
Alla:
>
>
> I was like Hermione in school... to certain extent. I always knew
the
> answer (Not in all classes, mind you :o), in some), but I was shy
> enough to raise my hand all the time.
>
> I cannot remember of any teacher who tried to shut me up, when I
> indeed raised my hand.
Shaun relied:
Whereas, I can remember about a dozen... it's one of those areas
where experiences can differ greatly.
Now as I've said before, I work with gifted kids, and I was one.
Teacher hostility towards students who always answer the questions
is quite a common experience for these kids. It occurs for
multiple reasons - sometimes it's because the teacher sees it as
disruptive in some ways, because it discourages others from
answering. Sometimes it's because the teacher sees it as a form of
boasting. Sometimes it's because the teacher regards it as somehow
unfair to other students to let the bright child be too obvious.
Sometimes the teacher is a rotten teacher - other times, they may
actually be a very good teacher, just not specifically informed or
trained about teaching this specific population.
>snipped Shaun<
Some teachers certainly do view these children as a plus in their
classrooms - but the opposite is a very recognised problem.
I'm glad you didn't experience it - but it is very common indeed.
Snow replies:
My one child was accepted into what we call the gifted program (in
our home town in the U.S.) and has always had to deal with, what I
call opposite prejudice, being gifted since she was five in
kindergarten. I have seen teachers that can allow her to excel and I
have also seen teachers who feel almost threatened by her. Having
dealt with many teachers of many opinions towards her, I feel
confident that Snape is not the type of teacher who would be
threatened by this type of student's abilities. In fact, the child I
am referring to said she would prefer Snape's teaching because "He
expects" according to her. The abuse type issue isn't a factor to
her, because she doesn't look at it in that way. Snape isn't abusive
but demanding.
Snape goads Harry in much the same way that Umbridge did. He pushes
Harry's buttons in an attempt to make him control his emotions and
Harry can't control them any more than he was able to control them
with Umbridge. McGonnagel attempts to teach Harry that he needs to
control his emotions with Umbridge and Harry still can't abide. Snape
isn't Umbridge thank goodness but I feel he was still trying to get
that message across about respect and controlling your emotions.
My other child is of the opposite spectrum of the gifted class of
people having had an operation at the age of 15 mos. that rendered
her almost speechless among other things and in much need of care. I
have also dealt with many people, who in her life expected, what I
thought at the time to be too much. (not unlike the feelings many
have about Snape) I have since this terrific incident, many years
ago, been made aware that it is the Snape type of attitude (like my
other daughter says) that allows them to learn. "Expect it" and in
Snapes case demand it. You only get what you are looking for. If you
only see a person as unable to do something, I assure you they wont
let you down, but if your expectations are set higher than your
belief, to your astonishment they will succeed. I actually see Snape
as the type of teacher, in both children's scenarios, who expects
that person to learn. We'll have to see if any of his "abused"
students let him down in the OWLS. I don't think they will and I feel
that is credited to the teacher.
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