Snape and Teaching, Does it Matter?

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 128421

I just want to suggest another twist on the discussions about 
teaching at Hogwarts.  Interesting as all the debates might be, does 
anyone really think that teaching is particularly important to the 
HP saga?

Frankly, I don't.  When it comes down to it, I don't think JKR 
really cares very much whether the various characters she puts on 
the Hogwarts faculty are good teachers or not.  They are there for 
other reasons, be it as villains or helpers or mysteries or comic 
relief.  If I were to read any kind of "message" into her portrayal 
of Hogwarts, I guess it would be "Most schools are pretty messed up 
and most teachers are badly flawed, if not downright incompetent.  
Teaching positions are hard to fill with good candidates, and as 
often as not the school has to settle for whatever technically 
qualified person they can find -- if they can even find them.  
Learning takes place despite the teachers as often as because of 
them, if not more often."  Personally, I wouldn't have any problem 
with that observation -- it certainly fits every school I've ever 
been affiliated with below the college level, and a lot of it fits 
colleges and graduate schools as well.  But I doubt JKR is 
consciously sending any such message.

Hogwarts is only a backdrop and the faculty are only supporting 
characters.  Whether we are talking about Snape or Hagrid or 
McGonnagal or any of the others, the important thing to remember is 
that THEY JUST AIN'T ALL THAT IMPORTANT.  Is Snape a good teacher in 
JKR's estimation?  I doubt she's interested enough in him to make up 
her mind.  He is in the story to serve a purpose and beyond that 
purpose I really don't think she cares very much about him.  Is 
Lupin a good teacher in her mind?  I suppose so, but she was 
building up sympathy for him with the readers and a level of trust 
with Harry.  The teaching per se was rather beside the point.  

In the end a lot of these questions, as much as they exercise us, 
are, I suspect, of very little interest to JKR.  They just don't 
touch very strongly on Harry or his story, which is what she is 
really interested in.  

All of which is to say that I suspect many of these questions will 
go totally unanswered.  But then again, I guess people will have to 
have something to argue about after Book VII.


Lupinlore