In Defense of Snape (long)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 122335


>>Betsy:
>So in that first class Snape set Harry up for failure [or to look 
the fool] by asking him potion questions he probably didn't know the 
answer for and blaming Harry and Ron for Neville's potion accident 
(as Geoff pointed out - Snape probably would've yelled at them if 
they *had* helped Neville).  I don't think he's not trying to teach 
Harry (or Neville for that matter), but I do think part of Snape's 
method is to choose a scapegoat in order to scare the crap out of the 
class and motivate them to never, ever be in the scapegoat's position 
(i.e. do the reading, learn the potions, etc.).  For various reasons 
(including the Spy!Snape one) Harry was chosen for that illustrious 
position.<

>>SSSusan:
>Snape's rationale for his actions in this scene is one of the more 
oft-debated and non-agreed-upon Snape issues.  Was it to humiliate 
Harry?  To bring him down a notch?  To establish that Snape's in 
control?  Because he sees James when he looks at Harry?  To bring 
attention to *those* particular potions ingredients ["hint, hint, 
Harry -- they're important!"]?  To set the scene so that the wee 
wittle DE kids will believe he's after Harry?  We really don't know, 
do we?<

Betsy:
If I didn't know before, I've certainly figured out just how huge 
(and emotional) the debate over Snape and his teaching methods are. :)
I should have clarified that the above is how *I* think he teaches.  
And I do (as stated earlier) think that there are other motivating 
factors.  But the only way we could ever find out if this is actually 
how Snape usually runs his classroom is if either we witness him 
introduce another class of first years to the wonders of potions, or 
Snape actually explains his teaching methods.  I doubt either 
situation will occur, so we'll probably never know.  (So this debate 
will go on *forever*!) 
 
>>Betsy: 
>So yes, I think Snape is aware of Harry's importance in the fight 
against Voldemort.  And I have strong suspisions that he's aware of 
Neville's position too.<

>>SSSusan:
>But, see, that's my main point, Betsy.  If Snape is aware of their 
importance, then why does he not ask himself whether these two are 
learning?<

Betsy:
Why do you think Snape *doesn't* ask himself that question?  The 
*only* reason Neville gets Snape's full attention is because he is 
constantly screwing up in such fantastic ways.  I've always felt that 
Snape's sharp tongue when it comes to Neville has to do with his 
frustration that the boy just never gets it.  (McGonagall loses her 
cool with Neville too.  Neville is a challenge.)  Leading into Trevor 
the toad's brush with death, Snape said that he was trying to figure 
out a way to motivate Neville to pay attention.

And as far as Harry, he hates Potions, yes.  But I don't think he 
ever failed anything until OotP. (And I belive that was just one 
exam.  Didn't he buckle down a bit more after that?)  So I'm not sure 
where he wasn't learning there.

>>SSSusan:
>With *these two* he goes beyond being a tough, hard-nosed, extremely-
non-warm-fuzzy, high-standards teacher.  I have NO qualms with a 
teacher of that description.  I have problems with a teacher who 
singles out students to repeatedly humiliate and beat down and insult 
and intimidate, **especially** if they are THE two students in whose 
hands the future of the WW may well rest.<

Betsy:
Harry, like I've said, is a special case.  And I haven't seen 
anything that suggests Harry has been failing Potions.  Neville 
is...  He's a sweet boy, but man he's a screw up.  And Snape gets 
frustrated.  And he gets nasty.  But I don't think Snape thinks he's 
no longer teaching.  I think he's thinking he'll beat some Potion's 
knowledge into Neville's fuzzy little head if it takes a two-by-
four.   

>> Betsy:
>I think, based on Neville's smile and Harry's confidence, that both 
boys ended up doing well on their Potion's exam in OotP.  In which 
case, Snape is a good teacher.<

>>SSSusan:
>Maybe.  For me it's not just about whether they managed to pass a 
big Potions test in the end, in Snape's absence, though that WILL be 
good news if they did.  For me it's also not just about whether 
they've learned to "handle" a smart ass teacher because Voldy will be 
much worse than that.  For me it's about whether they've learned 
*everything* they could possibly learn from this man (who I suspect 
knows a LOT), and whether they're the best prepared they can be.<

Betsy:
What else do you expect Snape to teach Neville and Harry?  He's the 
Potions Master.  He's not their father, nor their mentor.  Neville 
has a family to fulfill those roles, and even Harry has a few folks 
to choose from.  Snape's job, what he's been hired to do, is to give 
these kids a basic knowledge of Potions and to get them past their 
OWLs.  Which, I think, he's done.  Anything else, in regards to the 
prophecy, would be sticking his oar into Dumbledore's business.  
Snape has too much respect for Dumbledore to do such a thing.

>>SSSusan:
>Snape's humiliation, sarcasm, snideness, and etc. appear to show a 
man who either can't control himself very well for the sake of the 
greater good or who just doesn't get it that he's not helping these 
two, one of whom, if the prophecy is right, is The One to Watch.<

Betsy:
I don't see how Snape's behavior has weakened Harry.  I don't even 
see how it's weakened Neville.  Both boys did quite well in the MoM 
battle.  I'm not sure what it is you feel Snape should do for them.

Betsy