In Defense of Snape (long)

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 122043


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Hester Prinn 
<horridporrid03 at y...> wrote:

Betsy:

<snip>
  
> Everything in the books points to Snape having complete control 
over his classroom: they silently listen to every word he says.  He 
gets a maximum of information pounded into his students' heads: his 
students not only pass their O.W.L's, but do so at a high level.  And 
he even pushes his students to a level of study beyond Ministry 
standards (which, granted, may be low, but still, Snape is taking his 
students above and beyond).  All of those things combined make for 
one kick-ass teacher.
>  
> Though he is scary.  Scary and strict tend to go hand in hand.  
After all, the students (and this includes Harry and Ron) are nervous 
enough around McGonagall.  Scary and strict does not mean bad 
teacher.  

<snip>

His students had better do their reading if they don't want to get 
humiliated like the first poor dumb schmuck the professor called on.  
And they better listen to every word he says.  Note how he snaps at 
the class for not taking down the correct answers to the questions he 
asked Harry.  There's no canon for this, but I wouldn't be surprised 
if Snape starts off his first year's class in exactly the same way, 
every year.
>  
> Of course, he picked Harry to be the poor dumb schmuck this time, 
and I think there were several motives behind his choice.  The ugly, 
petty motive was that Harry is the son of James.  A motive I don't 
think Snape is above.  But Harry is also a celebrity, and Hogwarts is 
abuzz.  

<snip>

Snape is nipping a potential problem in the bud.  I think it's 
important to notice that Snape doesn't take points for Harry's 
ignorance.  Harry talks back to Snape, and Snape takes a point away 
from Gryffindor, "for [his] cheek." (PS pg. 138)


Geoff:
I speak as a teacher with 32 years experience of teaching mainly 
Maths and Computing.

I had a similar control to Snape. I could walk into my class and 
quieten them down without saying a word. But I also based my teaching 
on two principles: Be firm but fair, and never ask a student to do 
anything I would not do myself. Judging by the number of contacts I 
still have with old students, this theory worked pretty well.

Snape used methods to pull the rug from under Harry in ways which 
were calculated to make him look small and foolish....

'Snape, like Flitwick, started the class by taking the register and, 
like Flitwick, he paused at Harry's name.
"Ah, yes," he said quietly, "Harry Potter. Our new -
 /celebrity/."Draco Malfoy and his friends Crabbe and Goyle sniggered 
behind their hands.'

)PS "The Potions Master" pp.101/02 UK edition)

Why say anything at all? The easiest thing with someone you might 
think had a big head or an inflated opinion of themselves would be to 
not acknowledge anything beyond them answering their name.

'"Potter!" said Snape suddenly. "What would I get if I added powdered 
root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Powdered root of what to an infusion of what? Harry glanced at Ron 
who looked as stumped as he was; Hermione's hand had shot into the 
air.
"I don't know, sir" said Harry.
Snape's lips curled into a sneer.
"Tut, tut - fame clearly isn't everything."
He ignored Hermione's hand.
"Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I asked you to find 
me a bezoar?"
Hermione stretched her hand as high into the air as it would go 
without her leaving her seat but Harry didn't have the faintest idea 
what a bezoar was. He tried not to look at Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle 
who were shaking with laughter.
"I don't know, sir."
"Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, Potter?"'
(ibid. p.102)

Harry has answered his questions politely and waht does he get? 
Sneering and sarcasm which was completely uncalled for. What sort of 
encouragment is this to a boy in his first class to take an interest 
in this subject? I have a next door neighbour who is continually in 
conflict with his teenage son and always criticises him; he never 
finds anything to praise him - there is always something wrong. 
Result - the boy is underachieving and has a low self-esteem. This is 
the foundation that Snape is laying.

'At this, Hermione stood up,her hand stretching towards the ceiling.
"I don't know," said Harry quietly. "I think Hermione does, though, 
why don't you try her?"

*****

Snape said, "And a point will be taken from Gryffindor for your 
cheek, Potter."

*****

...Neville, who had been drenched in the potion when the cauldron 
collapsed, moaned in pain as angry red boils sprang up all over his 
arms and legs.
"Idiot boy!" snarled Snape, clearing the spilled potion away with one 
wave of his wand. "I suppose you added the porcupine quills before 
taking the cauldron off the fire?"
Neville whimpered as boils started to pop up all over his nose.
"Take him up to the hospital wing," Snape spat at Seamus. then he 
rounded on Harry and Ron who had been working next to Neville.
"You - Potter - why didn't you tell him not to add the quills? Though 
he'd make you look good if he got it wrong, did you? That's another 
point you've lost for Gryffindor."
This was so unfair that Harry opened his mouth to argue but Ron 
kicked him behind their cauldron.'

(ibid. pp.103/04)

Fear is not a way to establish a satisfactory working relationship 
with a class. Harry was not being cheeky; he spoke quietly and was 
trying to get Snape to look at Hermione - and also get him off his 
back. In the later incident, the blame should have been apportioned 
between Seamus and Neville who were the "team". I expect if Harry and 
Ron had tried to help these two, Snape would have bounced them for 
interfering. They were on a hiding to nothing.

Like Harry I started at a new school when I was 11. We had a woodwork 
teacher who revelled in sarcasm and constant criticism. I was keen to 
learn and was considered a bit of a swot at that age but I, like 
everyone else in the class, hated the teacher's guts. I can see that 
beginning to show in Harry at the end of the last quote.

I agree that Snape know his potions extremely well; it's his social 
skills which are lacking.

You can control your class and be strict either by being scary or by 
showing the class that you are also on their side and that the whole 
thing is a team effort. I know which one I found successful over 
those 32 years.

Geoff
http://www.aspectsofexmoor.com
Enjoy a virtual visit to the Exmoor National Park 
and the preserved West Somerset Railway