Snape's Self-Perception as Teacher

[lealess]

No: HPFGUIDX 144851

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "kiricat4001" <zarleycat at s...> 
wrote:
>
> > > Miles:
> > > ... that Snape's main problem with teaching potions - besides
> > > his very unpleasant character - is the subject. He loves it! 
> > > And most certainly most students do not share his love for 
> > > potionmaking. ... he doesn't want to see students mishandling
> > > his beloved potions.
> 
> > bboyminn:
> > 
> > Between what you've said and what Sonja said in post# 144800 in 
> > this same thread, I think we may be onto something.
> > 
> > I can understand the frustration that many teachers have with
> > their students. The students are so wrapped up in their teen-pop-
> > culture lives that they can't give a thought to the future. I
> > imagine that every teacher at one time or another (most likely on 
> > a daily basis) has had the uncontrollable urge to take a student 
> > firmly by the collar, shake them vigorously, and scream in their 
> > face, "This isimportant! This is your future! THIS MATTERS!". 
> 
> <snip> 
> 
> Marianne:
> 
> I've always felt that Snape had a deep apprciation and respect, if 
> not love, for Potions. He may very well be one of those teachers
> who is ultimately unsatisfied with teaching. Not because of how his 
> students do - Snape seems to be able to get most, if not all, of
> his students, where they need to be.  But, perhaps because none of 
> them do this with any real passion for the subject or any deep 
> appreciation of the beauty, as Snape sees it, of Potions.  
> 
> Marianne
>

I wonder if he feels the immense satisfaction of seeing students 
develop over time, gather insight, and achieve, as many do.  It is 
tremendously gratifying when students learn.  Some of Snape's 
students must show an appreciation of the subject that transcends the 
obligation of being in the class.  Not everyone in Slughorn's NEWT 
potions class was in training to be an Auror.  Most probably did not 
know that they had a new teacher before the beginning of the year, 
and the old one (Snape) didn't scare them off the subject.

That is why it is a pity we haven't seen Snape with older students, 
where there might be more open communication and love of the 
subject.  On the other hand, Slughorn seems to have less scholarly 
interaction with students than Snape did, and uses an outdated book 
without a second thought.

lealess