Emphasis on proper address was: Snape as father figure

[phoenixgod2000]

No: HPFGUIDX 131316


> Now Princess Sara says:
> 
> I agree with your definition to a point. When I interact with 
another adult in an informal 
> setting, I don't expect that person to automatically respect me. 
However, as a teacher, 
> when I work with a student, I do expect and sometimes need to 
demand that respect. The 
> relationship between Harry and Snape is that of teacher/student 
not of adult aquaintances. Snape is in a 
> position of authority and that demands respect, whether Harry 
likes the man and his 
> methods or not.

There is a difference between respecting the man and the office. The 
man deserves the personal respect he has earned. The position Snape 
holds demands respect because there is a default position of respect 
from a student to a teacher as a result of that teacher's authority 
and knowledge. But a teacher can also use up that respect by 
misusing his power as I think Snape does. He insults students, 
blatently favors his own house through unequal punishments, 
sabatoges lessons (which he does to Harry at least one time in 
OOTP), and otherwise acts in a manner unbefiting a person in his 
position. To be honest, I think Harry gives *more* respect to Snape 
than the man deserves.

Sara, how much respect would you honestly think you deserve from 
your students if you acted like Snape does in the classroom?  Yes, a 
student is obligated to respect a teacher, but by the same token a 
teacher is obligated to be someone worthy of being respected.  Of 
course that could be my wacky ethics and desire to be a good teacher 
talking :) 

 I would never tolerate my students addressing me as "Sara" or any 
other 
> familiar nickname in a school setting. Essentially, using an 
informal address in a formal 
> situation (say, like school) is extremely rude.

But there isn't any evidence that Harry is being disrespectful 
directly to Snape inside the classroom! No, he doesn't use sir fifty 
times a sentence, but he does what he's told in classroom and his 
potions never seem to be all that much off the mark. It seems to me 
that he is meeting the respect requirements both of us would demand 
of our own students. I suppose that if your are judging respect by 
acting in a bootlicking servile fashion, someone like Draco is your 
model, but I would think less of Harry if he acted the same way.

And Harry uses an informal address to a third party when Snape isn't 
around. I still want to know why Molly and DD get their knickers in 
a twist over that. As far as I'm concerned, students can say 
anything they want outside of the classroom. It's inside that 
matters. And inside the classroom, aside from a few lapses in 
judgement, Harry is respectful to Snape.

> However, many people feel that the type of mandatory respect for 
people like doctors, 
> teachers, and elders is old fashioned. But really, good manners 
never go out of style. 

It depends on what you think good manners are. I happen to think 
that Harry is demonstrating admirable restraint and good manners 
when he deals with Snape. Better manners than Snape deals with Harry 
in many cases. At fifteen, I would have been far less tolerant.

phoenixgod2000, who is wondering if he could convince his students 
to call him Mr. Phoenixgod. 'cause talk about ego stroking :)