School results was Re: [HPforGrownups] Re: Apologizing to Snape? (was: Harry's s

[irene_mikhlin]

No: HPFGUIDX 139145

Merry Kinsella wrote:
> 
> Something OT I found sad in the pensieve scene is what appears to be
> Snape's passion as a student.  I think we can assume he was a
> brilliant student in the Hermoine mold, though not as nice. :)  But
> there's Sirius and James ignoring their recent exams, there's Sirius
> refusing to "test" Lupin while he studies for his transfiguration
> OWL, because he knows every bit of that "Rubbish".  And you know he
> does.  All the time in the world to pull wings off flies or pants
off
> Snapes, and still get top grades.  Meanwhile Snape barely knows
where
> he's headed, he's so absorbed in his schoolwork.  I don't think he's
> a "grind" - I just think that's who he is.  He loves that stuff. 
But
> isn't rewarded for it any more than somebody like James and Sirius
> who don't give a damn, because they do as well without caring.
> 

I think they were of two different types of students. James and
Sirius strike me as all-rounders - as you say, without too much effort
they can get at least E grade in any subject they take.
Snape, however, was probably a 'specialist' student - I can see him 
giving his complete attention to 3 or 4 subjects that interested him. 
Say, Potions, DADA and Charms, maybe Transfiguration. And completely 
ignoring the rest of the studies (what other compulsory subjects are 
there? Astronomy, History of Magic, what else?)
So the student who got an 'O' in his specialist subjects but barely 
scrapped 'A' in the rest will be remembered as less brilliant than 
somebody who effortlessly gets 'E' in everything, with couple of 'O' 
thrown in.

JKR may have inadvertently commented on grade inflation, which is a
very popular topic everywhere two british teachers meet these days.
Basically it means that somebody who goes extra mile (or extra foot of
parchment) can't be distinguished from someone who does just enough.

Irene