Kids v DEs / Mean Teachers

[AyanEva]

No: HPFGUIDX 128301

AyanEva:   

> And there's still the question of how a bunch of kids can best a 
> bunch of fully grown evil wizards.

Betsy:

> But the kids *didn't* best the wizards.  Every single one of them 
> was down, Harry was surrounded, Neville was in the middle of being 
> tortured by Bellatrix, and Harry was just about to hand over the 
> prophecy in order to stop Neville being tortured (though I doubt 
> Bellatrix would have stopped) when Order wizards came streaming to 
> the rescue.  (OotP Scholastic hardback p.801)
 

AyanEva:

You know, that's so true. For some reason I always remember it
differently and unfortunately, I don't have my books here (they're 
two states away at home). I think it's because the kids did better 
than I expected them to. I always assume that the DEs will just wipe 
the floor with anyone that they run across. If I was an evil guy, 
that's how I'd train my minions. They'd be like the magical version 
of some Jet Li/Jacki Chan karate masters or something.

------------------------------------------------

Irene wrote in post 128260:

That wasn't quite what I meant. In the context of a real-life school,
where somebody like Hermione would be discouraged by her peers from
demonstrating any commitment, strict teacher is much better than a
"nice" but ineffectual one. If that strict teacher happens to be fair
(McGonagall), that's excellent, but even if he's not, it's still 
better than the other choice.
Oh, I need Shaun to come to my rescue, he always explains it so much
better than I do.


AyanEva: 

I agree whole heartedly. Some of the classes that I learned the most
in were taught by teachers who were, without a doubt, some of the
meanest teachers on the Earth. Seriously, a couple even made me cry 
in elementary school, hurt my feelings in middle school, and 
infuriated me to the point of tears in high school. In college I had 
some similar professors with whom I used to get into full-blown 
e-mail arguments. Lots of snarky, short responses and all, but I 
learned the material better than the rest of the class just to spite 
them. I remember what they taught more so than many of the really 
nice teachers who taught really easy classes. The mean professors 
aren't out to coddle the students and make friends: Their job is to 
force the student to learn, whether they want to or not, and that's 
what they do. 

I've always understood that and I've never complained once. In fact, 
I appreciate their efforts the most! I'm talking short-tempered 
instructors who didn't hesitate to goad, make fun of, belittle, and 
insult the students every so often. Not so often as Snape, but often
enough. Yup, I had a few like that and spent a number of times in the
bathroom crying in elementary school, but I always got A's in my
classes. It's not like this was old school teaching either, this was
the 90s and...whatever the 2000's are called.  I'd rather have Snape
or McGonagal as a teacher than Trelawney. I can deal with mean and
snarky, but not totally batty. It was unpleasant at times and there
are teachers and professors that I'd love to back a car over, but it
was worth it and I stayed on the honor roll through middle and high
school and graduated cum laude from college. I want to be pushed and
challenged. The harder you push me, the better I'll perform. Give me
your best shot!

AyanEva