Scary Teachers - Good Teachers (was: Re: Hagrid and Snape...)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 152834

> >>Potioncat:
> Neither Hagrid, nor Snape are good as teachers. DD didn't choose   
> them for them for their teaching ability. 
> We get to see what a different House thinks of Hagrid, and we know 
> the Trio doesn't think he's a good teacher. I wish we knew what   
> the other Houses think of Snape. At least one non-Slytherin        
> student liked Snape's DADA class.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
I think it's a mistake to lump Snape in with Hagrid as far as 
teaching ability goes.  Based on Harry's NEWT Potion class in HBP 
either Snape's students get "Outstandings" on their OWLs in high 
numbers, or those who manage the required grade all want to continue 
with Potions.  Either speaks towards Snape being an above average 
professor at Hogwarts.  Certainly better than Hagrid, who looses all 
of his students as soon as they have a choice.

Somewhere someone stated (I couldn't find the post, sorry) that 
Lupin and McGonagall where their favorite teachers.  That they were 
examples of two good teachers.  And I agree.  But if I could have 
avoided McGonagall's classroom as a student I would have.  She's the 
type of teacher that has always terrified me: one who uses her 
control of the pack as a weapon.  I'd *much* rather receive an 
acidic dressing down from Snape than have McGonagall turn all my 
peers against me.

Neville seems to be able to take it.  McGonagall would have been my 
boggart, though, while I feel like I'd have been able to take 
Snape.  Which I think brings us back to what Shaun pointed out in 
his post here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/152343 

Different students respond differently to different teaching 
styles.  Unless I had a natural gift for Transfiguration and was 
therefore confident in my ability to avoid McGonagall's wrath, I'd 
have gritted my teeth through her classes (and either thanked my 
lucky stars, or bemoaned my fate depending on my sorting) and 
basically just tried to make it through.

I'm not saying McGonagall shouldn't be a teacher.  I'm not even 
saying that the disciplinary style she uses (shame and shunning) is 
horribly wrong. (Though it scares the bejeezus out of me.)  Just 
that, for me, McGonagall is a scarier teacher than Snape, though I 
think they're about even on the competence scale.

> >>Magpie: 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/152769
> <snip>
> When the teacher doesn't wear the authority of a teacher, or acts 
> more like a peer, he's responded to as such and the class suffers.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
I agree that this is exactly where Snape slips up. And that's the 
one area McGonagall has him beat.  I'd still prefer Snape as my 
teacher though.

Betsy Hp