Teachers at Hogwarts (was Snape, Hagrid and Animals)

[leslie41]

No: HPFGUIDX 143729



--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "va32h" <va32h at c...> wrote:
> Applying real-life standards of safety to the magical world is always 
> going to be frustrating. For me, it really reduces my enjoyment of the 
> story to sidetrack myself with all the reasons this or that couldn't 
> or shouldn't really happen. (I strictly speaking of my own experience 
> here, to each his own). 


Yah, I agree with that.  But if people are going to start piling on Snape for being a bad teacher, or mean, or whatever, there's plenty worse to pick on with Hagrid.  Snape is an EFFECTIVE teacher.  And his teaching does not imperil the very lives of his students.  Hagrid is both ineffective and dangerous.

I think Rowling once was asked about Snape, and Snape's retention at Hogwarts despite his seeming cruelty.  She said something like "there are teachers out there like Snape, and that's a lesson for Harry."

Most of the teachers at Hogwarts do reflect certain paradigms in the teaching world that any teacher would recognize.  Or any student.  

Everyone probably has a Snape in their past.  The brilliant teacher who's mean as all hell.  Everyone has a Hagrid as well, the dimwit who can't seem to do anything right.  McGonnagal, the somewhat prissy finger-wagger.  And Umbridge, the soulless toady of administration, bully, and purveyor of idiotic teaching theories that make no sense in the real world. 

And the ideal of teacherly perfection?  

Lupin.   That is, unless he stupidly forgets to take his wolfsbane and nearly kills his favorite students. 

Ha!