Snape's Self-Perception as Teacher

[lealess]

No: HPFGUIDX 144807

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "jessicabathurst" 
<ragingjess at h...> wrote:
>
> <SNIP>
> I've been wondering:  how does Snape view himself as a teacher?  
> <SNIP>
> So...what if Snape actually ENJOYS 
> teaching?  What if, after a disastrous start in life as Death
> Eater Snape now realizes that he's right where he belongs...in 
> primary school education? 
> 
> If that's the case, does Snape think he's a good teacher?  Does he 
> think he's abusive?  Does he think he's one of those "tough but 
> lovable" types, like McGonagall?  Does Snape have any idea he's one 
> student's living nightmare?  Would he care?
> 
> <SNIP>

As someone who had a Snape-like teacher, who I highly respected and 
who was dedicated to his profession, and as someone who teaches and 
would be more Snape-like if it would help me reach certain students 
(hooray, winter break), it is possible Snape enjoys what he does, and 
thinks his methods are truly wizard, but has no patience for slackers 
and people who won't challenge themselves or even follow directions.  
But, given Snape's probable intellect, I doubt he finds it rewarding 
to sit around reading abysmal papers, to repeat the same subjects 
year-after-year, to ride herd on attention-challenged, cheeky, or 
know-it-all adolescents, or overbearing/interfering parents (Lucius 
Malfoy).  Then there's dealing with the administration, and the 
meetings, and the hours, and the pay


To really answer this question, we would have to see him with a more 
advanced group of students, ones who can collaborate instead of 
distract themselves enough to blow up the classroom.   But we don't 
see him in NEWT-level Potions, and we see little of his DADA 
teaching -- and who knows what level he is teaching at there, 
considering the students' past education in the subject?

I think of him as someone who is stuck with teaching because he needs 
to be at Hogwarts for whatever reason you believe him to be there.  
While he probably loves the subjects he teaches, the odious aspects, 
and for him this probably includes students themselves -- not so 
much.  He probably believes he does a good job, but I doubt he cares 
about the profession.  If he did, he could improve his methods.

He probably teaches in the manner he was taught.  I doubt he cares a 
fig about how others see his teaching: Umbridge, for example, or a 
certain student who feels secure enough to cricitize his method for 
dealing with dementors.

I like the way you started with his experience as a Death Eater 
leading him to realize he's right where he belongs as a teacher... :) 
(ack -- my first smiley face).

lealess