Snape Abusive

[kmcbears1]

No: HPFGUIDX 115212


> > kmc:
> > > Or did Snape just want Neville to have a compelling reason to 
> > > figure out what he did wrong and fix it?  In my first few 
readings
> > > of the books, I would have argued along side of you but I 
gradually 
> > > began to realize that Snape is dealing with a dangerous 
subject.  
> > > Students must learn to correct their errors. <snip> 
> 
> > Dawnnie:
> > The hardest thing for me to impart on my students was the idea of 
> > natural consequences and doing for yourself.  And I must admit, 
when 
> > I first started teaching it was hard for me to **not** rush in 
and 
> > fix/correct student errors/mistakes/problems. 
>  
> 
> "phoenixgod2000":
> There is still a big difference between making someone answer their 
> history homework on their own and threatening to poison their pet.  
> Even if Snape knew that there was not going to be a negative effect 
> on Trevor, Neville had no way of knowing that.  Snape did it to 
> simply inspire terror in Neville.  He is at the very least an 
> emotional sadist.  JK has herself described him as being based on a 
> hated teacher of hers.  Never once has she said that he was a hated 
> teacher who taught her a lot.  I don't think we are supposed to 
find 
> deep education reasons for his actions in potions class.  I think 
we 
> are simply supposed to be sympathetic towards Neville.

kmc replies:
Where did you read that JKR hated her former science teacher? 

JKR's former science teacher was surprised to learn that he was one 
of three teachers that form the basis for Snape's teaching methods.  

"But, as if by magic, he has since come to believe that his former 
pupil's literary work is more of a gentle, if wile, way of paying him 
back for ensuring that people always paid attention during his 
lessons." (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/1731602.stm)

Remember we are seeing Snape through Harry's eyes and Harry decide at 
age 11 that Snape is evil.  Snape is teaching a subject that the 
pupil must concentrate on for the entire class.  It is not something 
that you can learn by reading a book or copying someone else's 
notes.  You learn to make potions just like a person learns to cook 
by doing it and not letting your mind wander.  

Harry was sympathetic to Neville but I think we were supposed to see 
Hermione jumping again with her instructions.  In an interview JKR 
stated that she wondered why people don't worry more about Hermione.  
This is not a knock on Hermione.  Just a different perspective on 
this particular event.  

Since the Gryffindors take Potions with the Slytherins and Snape 
favors his house, I will support the point that the Gryffindors get 
more criticism in Potions than the other houses.  But that does not 
make Snape abusive or a bad teacher.  In fact, I think Neville's and 
Harry's Potions Owl grades are going to be rather high.

kmc