[HPforGrownups] Re: Accio 2005 press release: new Guest Speaker andTrial of Snape

[Irene Mikhlin]

No: HPFGUIDX 128242

 --- Alla wrote: 

> Well, I will reply with the same thing I told Betsy
> - Snape is the 
> one on trial, nobody else's, so if his behaviour
> counts as criminal, 
> he should be punished for that.

I see it as a terribly dangerous thing: a law that's
so broad that anyone can be put on trial on as needed
basis. "As needed" being "we don't like you on this
particular day".
That's the basis that Soviet justice system operated
on: if we want to put you in jail, we can always find
a law that lets us do so.

Maybe I should go to this conference, carrying
"Kangaroo court" poster. Just kidding.

> Irene: "Snape-like teacher is a very good thing for
Hermione-like pupil"

> Alla:
> 
> Really? 

Why do you think she always protects him when Ron and
Harry indulge in a slugfest? 

> So, what was I getting at? Oh, yes, the best friend.
> Teacher like 
> Mcgonagall could be my best friend, who indeed
> forces everybody to 
> study.

But the choice is not between Snape and McGonagall!
Sure, if you can have fairness on top of strictness,
that's an added bonus.
Most of the time the choice is between Snape and
Trelawney, Snape and Binns, Snape and Hagrid.

I was presented with such choices during my education,
and I can honestly say that I've chosen Snape every
time.

Rowling has her reasons for allowing a clever girl
like Hermione to have a blind spot - if she stopped
this "helping Neville" business (which no strict
teacher would tolerate and which does Neville no
favours, really), 99% of her problems in Potions would
go away.

> 
> Teacher who would treat me like Snape did, I would
> dislike immensely.
> 
> Alla, who is still amazed how lucky she was in NOT
> having teachers 
> like Snape EVER during her education.

Don't you see any contradiction in the above
statements? And by the way, I've never argued that
students who benefit from this kind of teacher will
like him. Maybe 20 years after graduation, at the best
case.

> This all had of course been my opinion and my
> opinion only.

Same here.

Irene



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