Snape and Neville/ Does Snape help students reach their true potential?

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 128406

Betsy:
I don't think I know what you mean by bringing out the best in the 
students.  Best what?  Understanding of Potions?  Hermione has 
certainly had her knowledged stretched.  She's learned about potions 
way beyond her level based on comments made within Snape's lectures.  
She's also been challenged to be at her best with every single potion 
she makes.  Neville's best seems to be a potion that doesn't harm his 
neighbors, and IIRC his potions were fairly harmless in OotP.


Alla:

I for the most part agree with what Susan said in her reply, but I 
specifically wanted to comment on " Neville's best".

How do you know that Neville's best seems to be a potion that does
not 
harm his neighbors?

Is Neville REALLY that hopeless in Potions or maybe a teacher of whom 
he is terrified makes him to be that hopeless?

There is IMO a possible hint in canon ( and I realise that this is a 
hint nothing more) that Neville's true potential in Potions is so
much 
higher than what he shows in Snape's classes.

Neville performs remarkably well in Herbology classes.  Now, I am not 
saying that those two classes are the same, far from it, BUT both 
Herbology and Potions deal with plants, herbs, A LOT.

To me the fact that Neville does well in Herbology says not only that 
he does better under Professor Sprout, but also that he MAY BE 
interested in what can be done with plants and herbs in their
different 
capacity, such as how to make potions with them.

Nope, I am not sure that Snape helps Neville reach his true
potential, 
not sure at all.

Susan:
When Harry entered Snape's class, he had no reason to dislike Snape, 
yet Snape has fostered a loathing and mistrust that have made Harry 
SHUT DOWN, rather than work hard.  Is that partially Harry's fault?  
You betcha.  But were Snape's actions and his continual, across-FIVE-
years, fostering of that animosity the mark of a *good* teacher?  Not 
to me.

Alla:

I agree 99.99% with your post, except that I don't see any fault on 
Harry's actions in first class. :-)
Harry is guilty of misgivings in his dealings with Snape later on, 
although often not those that Snape wants to punish him for, but I 
firmly convinced that in that first lesson he was absolutely
blameless 
and that was the lesson that set tone to their relationship.

Just my opinion of course,

Alla.