Real child abuse.

[Jim Ferer]

No: HPFGUIDX 145580

Jazmyn: "I am glad someone besides me doesn't see Snape as a child
abuser. He is tough on the kids, yes, but no more tough then my old
math teacher. Its clear the kids are learning and that he commands
their attention, but he doesn't do anything that can be called child
abuse, even by muggle standards. By wizard standards, well, we only
know that children are not transformed as a punishment and most
punishments seem to have to do with cleaning things. One wonders what
the house elves think of that? By wizard standards its apparently okay
to abuse a house elf though."

Count me in with you.  The term 'child abuse' is being thrown around
carelessly here, drawing no distinction between bullying students
(reprehensible though it is) and kids covered with cigarette burns,
broken limbs, and 14 year olds that weight 70 pounds. I've seen this,
and it's nauseating. Snape's actions aren't remotely child abuse.

But I don't agree with you that Snape is just 'tough on students.' He
bullies them and does nasty things to Neville's head, and treats his
non-favorites unfairly. To me the opposite of Snape is McGonagall, who
is the anti-Snape: tough, demanding, and uncompromising, but fair and
caring for the students. Her style is well suited for 'gut' courses
like Transfiguration. I've learned a lot under the McGonagalls I've
met, even if I didn't like it at the time.  There's no place for Snape
in teaching, in my opinion, but plenty for McGonagall.