Hermione and Snape. Was: Re: Accio 2005 press releaseTrial of Snape

horridporrid03 horridporrid03 at yahoo.com
Sun May 1 23:55:52 UTC 2005


No: HPFGUIDX 128377

>>SSSusan:
<snip>
>At what point do we draw the line and say, "This teacher reaches 
*enough* students that we can consider him a GOOD teacher"?<

Betsy:
But isn't a statement like this once again ignoring Snape's high pass 
rate?  After all, if a larger than average number of students pass 
the Potions' OWL, and if the entire class is being taught a higher 
level of Potions than required, how can you reconcile that with the 
suggestion that Snape's teaching style reaches only a few select 
students?  I will agree that Snape is probably only *liked* by his 
Slytherins (though have there been any comments made on Snape from 
the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws we've met?) but that doesn't translate 
to his ability to teach.

>>SSSusan:  
>I think there is plenty of evidence that Snape's style is not  
effective with Harry & Neville, and I believe that Hermione learns in 
spite of him.<

Betsy:
So this is three students, out of the entire Hogwarts student body, 
and frankly, I'd argue them.  Both Neville and Harry gave the 
appearance of doing better then they expected on their OWLs (I'm 
pretty sure Harry did well enough to get himself into the NEWTs level 
class) and if they did that is because Snape taught them what they 
needed to know.  Which would mean that his style with them - though 
not perfect - is effective.

As to Hermione, Pippin did a great job pointing out all the extra 
tidbits Snape dangled in front Hermione, encouraging her towards 
further exploration.

>>Pippin (message # 128311)
>Certainly she wishes Snape would be a bit nicer. But
bearing in mind that this is the girl who would rather
undergo an illegal curse than miss an important lesson, I
think Hermione must think she's getting something special
out of Snape's lessons. What is she learning?
>I think it's the little asides that she finds valuable,
the things Harry and Ron pay no attention to, either
because they're not part of the regular course work and
won't be on the exam, or because they think it's just Snape
being horrible. Like, where to find the recipe for
polyjuice potion. Or the fact that the ingredients for
Shrinking Solution can be used to make a poison. Or that
the Draught of Peace, with certain alterations, will put
the drinker into an irreversible trance. The kind of thing,
in other words, that might be useful to know if you were
planning to fight Voldemort, but wouldn't need to know
to pass your OWLs or NEWTs.<

Betsy:
And don't forget that Hermione, per canon, is quite picky about her 
teachers.  When Trelawny failed to meet expectations, Hermione 
decided she didn't need Divinations anyway and left the class.  When 
Hagrid failed to meet expectations, Hermione helped him with his 
lesson plans.  And when Umbridge failed to meet expectations, 
Hermione formed a study group to cover what Umbridge was failing to 
teach.  Not once has Hermione suggested that Snape was failing to 
meet her expectations.  Instead she constantly encourages Ron and 
Harry to do their potion assignment.

The only time Hermione has held back her true feelings about a 
teacher is with Hagrid, and that's only because of her loyalty and 
compassion for both Hagrid and Harry.  Even then, we the reader know 
that she's fully aware of Hagrid's teaching faults.  Is there anytime 
in canon when Hermione question's Snape's teaching abilities?

>>SSSusan:
>It may be that Snape's methods work well with some of the members of 
his class.  The students are passing and getting decent marks on 
their exams, indeed.  But what I always come back to is, "Could the 
students be doing BETTER with someone else?"<

Betsy:
Oh, there's definitely room for improvement.  Probably the best 
teacher at Hogwarts, IMO, has been Lupin.  He not only taught his 
students, but he got them enthusiastic about his subject and excited 
to learn.  And yes, Snape has a long way to go to achieve that level 
of teaching, but I haven't seen any hard evidence put forward that 
points to him being a sub-par teacher.  And seeing how hard its been 
for Dumbledore to get a decent DADA professor, I imagine a competent 
Potions professor would be just as hard to find.

Betsy, who's also looking forward to a NEWTs level Potions class.







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