In Defense of Snape (Against Snape in JKR's words)

[Matt]

No: HPFGUIDX 122155


Shaun Hately:
<snip>
> I doubt Trevor was in any real danger.
> 
> Yes, Snape let Neville think he was, and some people certainly 
> would regard that as inappropriate, and I can understand why.
> 
> But Neville has to learn - and in that class they are making 
> shrinking potions - something they have apparently been working 
> towards for a while (they had an essay on Shrinking Potions to do 
> over their summer holidays). He has made very basic errors. I can 
> *seriously* understand a teacher being very irritated in that 
> situation.
> 
> As I've said numerous times before, I had some very Snapish 
> teachers as a kid. And I learned incredibly effectively from them. 
> Did I enjoy their classes? No. Did I fear them? Yes (though not as 
> much as Neville). Were they nice men? At least one, most definitely 
> was not (with the other main one, I've never been quite sure how 
> much of his manner was a show).
<snip>
> Snape's methods may not be comfortable, or fashionable. But that 
> doesn't necessarily make them bad methods. Like I say, I had 
> teachers very like him who were good teachers. And, a lot of 
> teachers I had who were nice and kind, and pleasant to be around, 
> were either useless teachers in general - or at least useless when 
> it came to teaching me specifically.
> 
> There needs to be a range of teaching methods in use. I really do 
> think Snape, as we see him, falls into that valid range.




Matt:

This has been a very interesting discussion on Snape, but I must say 
I disagree with those who are saying Snape was a "good" teacher.  I 
have not had a teacher as bad as Snape in my many years as a 
student, so I can't say how I would react to it.  However, even if 
Harry is able to mentally stand up to Snape's public and personal 
attacks on his family, character, etc., does that give Snape the 
right to make these attacks?  If Snape is in a teacher position, the 
answer is no.

Some have said that Snape's teaching methods might not be the nicest 
teaching methods, but that they work for some and even most 
students, so it is okay.  However, when a teacher engages in 
personal attacks on students, then there is a line that is being 
crossed.  Even if many of the students benefit from a "hard" 
teacher, if a minority of students suffer under that teacher (such 
as Neville), then the method is wrong, and a better teaching method 
should be found.

In the example brought up above, I agree that Snape probably knew 
that Trevor would not be hurt from the potion.  However, his 
willingness to let Neville think that his toad was going to be hurt 
or worse is a nasty and horrid prank that one would not and should 
not expect from a TEACHER.

Actually, Alla made a wonderful post earlier in this thread giving 
many examples of Snape being mean, and downright evil, towards 
students like Harry, Neville, Hermione, etc.  I believe that these 
show that Snape cannot possibly be classified as a good teacher.  It 
is certainly possible that he may be acting at certain times in some 
kind of a "spy" frame of mind, and I do believe that in the end he 
will be an important ally for Harry and DD.  However, all that being 
said, his teaching methods are damaging and destructive in their 
style, and even if Harry can mentally survive some of the things 
Snape has done in his teaching role, it doesn't excuse Snape's 
unacceptable teaching.

Just my thoughts on the issue!    :)

Matt
MSW