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

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 152852

> >>Betsy Hp:
> > 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.
> > <snip>
 
> >>Alla:
> Um, Snape does that too, no?
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
Well, no, actually.  Snape will dress Neville down in *front* of his 
peers, but he doesn't actually invite those peers to turn on Neville 
to sell the point home.  It seems that McGonagall routinely turns 
her house against those she's disciplining.  She does so to Neville, 
Harry and Hermione, that we've seen.  And she does it with such ease 
that it seems to be quite natural.  As Snape's acid wit is natural 
to him.

Obviously, Neville, Hermione and Harry aren't overly affected by 
such treatment.  But that sort of thing really bothers me.  So I'd 
have lived in constant fear of angering McGonagall in a way I 
wouldn't have feared Snape.  Different strokes for different folks.

> >>Alla:
> You see, for all hatred I feel about Snape as "teacher", I really 
> really have no problem that if some kids and/or their parents want 
> to inflict upon themselves his wrath that he should be their      
> teacher. 
> THAT is if the others, who IMO suffer badly under Snape regime    
> have a CHOICE to study under a different teacher.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
So you'd want someone like me to have another Transfiguration 
teacher to choose from, right?  I wonder if I'd have done it though? 
Because again, McGonagall *is* a good teacher.  She really knows her 
subject, just as Snape knows his.  Also, not much like life, 
really.  I'm sure Fleur would have prefered a different mother-in-
law (and Molly a different daughter-in-law) if she had the ability 
to choose.

That's the thing.  It's impossible to choose the people you'll run 
into in life.  And sometimes it's the folks you'd least like to be 
around that have something you want enough (or need enough) to put 
up with them.  Fleur puts up with Molly because she loves Bill.  
Neville deals with Snape because he wants to graduate from 
Hogwarts.  Draco puts up with Hagrid for the same reason.

Betsy Hp