Snape, Umbridge, and teaching.& back to Hermione

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 128444


--In post # 128435 Phoenixgod wrote:

> 
> Umbridge is evil boot-licking villian who would probably consider 
her 
> own class advanced based on the ministry's teaching standards and 
we 
> know how great those are.  Why is it that we should take her praise 
> of Snape as gospel truth when practically everything else she does 
in 
> the entire book is about hiding the truth? Why should we believe 
her?

Potioncat:
It's very hard to decided whom to believe and when to believe 
him/her. Many characters are honest, but not always correct. Others 
lie a great deal, but not always. 

This event happens in OoP chapter 17. Snape sneers as he introduces 
Umbridge. Harry wonders which teacher he'd rather have triumph over 
the other. Granted, Snape-apoligists often dicount Harry's 
interpretation of events but even Harry sees these two as adversaries.
The first thing she says is, "Well the class seems fairly advanced 
for their level," she said briskly to Snape's back. "Though I would 
question whether it is advisable to teach them a potion like the 
Strengthening Solution. I think the Ministry would prefer it if that 
was removed from the syllabus." She goes on to ask how long he's been 
teaching and why he hasn't been granted his frequent request for the 
DADA position. She isnt' buttering him up at all.

Umbridge doesn't consider it a compliment to say the class is 
advanced. And of course, it's not certain what she means. Would the 
Ministry really prefer that? Or is she speaking for herself (and 
possibly Fudge?) Perhaps it would be preferred for only certain 
students to instructed in the advanced material? Is the class 
advanced based on her opinion or based on the minimum level expected 
by the OWLs? Even if the compliment was intended to be that, she 
takes it away with everything else she says. 

Given Umbridge's nature, I think she is being honest and correct that 
the Potions class is being taught at a higher level than required. 

The other quote which is often used is Snape's own comment that his 
classes have a high pass rate. Strictly speaking we don't know if it 
is true. Nor do we know ...compared to what? Compared to Ministry 
expectations? To the previous Potions Master? Compared to the pass 
rate of other courses offered at Hogwarts? Or does that even matter.

I think it's interesting that Snape's OWL speach and McGonagall's OWL 
speech are saying the same thing: Everyone in this class can pass 
their OWL exam. Both teachers single out Neville. McGonagall leaves 
him feeling encouraged, Snape leaves him feeling fearful.

But based on the context, based on the overall message being given, I 
believe both Snape and McGonagall are being correct and honest in 
that everyone in their classes have the abiltiy to pass the OWLs.


In Post 128436 Neri wrote:
Neri:
You know, my next project after the Harry's True Girlfriend Test
should be the Automated Snape Apologizer. This shouldn't be difficult:
if Snape doesn't encourage Hermione then McGonnagal doesn't either. If
McGonnagal does encourage Hermione then she hurts her by doing so and
Snape corrects this. An ASA for each member could make a lot of
posting unnecessary and solve the HPfGU volume problem once and for 
all.

Potioncat:
Would you? Could you? Does that mean we could just write: ASA #4 or 
ASA #97 in our replies to attacks on the dear Potion Master? Think of 
the time it will save us! Can you make it quickly! I'm sure after 
July we Snape Apologists will need all the time saving devices we can 
get! We'll have so much more to apologize for!

Potioncat who combined two different threads in this post, but thinks 
it's OK anyway.