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

[Neri]

No: HPFGUIDX 152905

> > >>Betsy Hp:
> > > <snip> 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.  
> 
> > >>Neri:
> > I'm curious how did you figure that out from Harry's NEWT class?
> 
> Betsy Hp:
> Because ten students in Harry's NEWT potions class achieved an 
> Outstanding on their OWL.  That would mean that a quarter of his 
> class achieved the highest grade possible and all of them wanted to 
> continue with Potions.  Or, *over* a quarter of his class achieved 
> the highest grade possible but decided not to continue.  Either way, 
> it's a job well done by Snape.  At least, IMO.
> 

Neri:
Why do you assume that ten students in the NEWT potions class achieved
"Outstanding"? Do you think that everybody except Harry and Ron got an
Outstanding? I doubt this is the case. They could get in with "Exceed
Expectations" too. In fact, Hermione was obviously doing better than
anybody else in the class (except for Harry, who had an unfair
advantage) during the whole year, so it would be strange if all of
them had an "Outstanding" like she had. Judging from Ernie's
performances I doubt very much he got an Outstanding OWL. 

So is it because the other students had their books and ingredients
ready? But maybe they simply got previous information that the
standards were lowered this year. I'd expect critical information such
as the minimal grade required for each NEWT class to be available for
students earlier than their first day of school. It would be just like
Ron to neglect checking for any updates, and Harry of course wouldn't
know about it at all. 

Also, are ten students a quarter? JKR didn't say there are 40 students
in Harry's year. She recently explained that she had created 40
students with background, but she had never decided they are the only
students in Harry's year. And then she repeated the number of 600
students for the whole school. 

So what we know for certain is that Snape produced 12 NEWT students
who got EE or higher and wanted to continue with the subject. But is
this number high, low or average? The only way to know would be to
compare it with the number of students in other NEWT classes. DADA,
for example. How many students there are in the DADA class? Ah yes,
here it is:
 
*********************************************************
HBP, Ch. 21:
"Before we start, I want your dementor essays," said Snape, waving his
wand carelessly, so that twenty-five scrolls of parchment soared into
the air and landed in a neat pile on his desk.
*********************************************************
 
There are 25 students in this class. It looks like five different DADA
teachers, three of them hopeless, produced more than *twice* the
number of NEWT students that Snape produced during these same years.
Of course, to be fair this is in great part the DA effect:
 
*********************************************************
HBP, Ch.9:
Although  Snape did not know it, Harry had taught at least half the
class (anybody who had been a member of the D.A.) how to perform a
Shield Charm the previous year.
********************************************************* 

We might say that Harry, in less than a year of underground training,
produced more NEWT students than Snape produced in five years of
official teaching. And Harry was working with only three houses while
Snape was working with all four.

BTW, if I counted right there were 15 students of Harry's year in the
DA. Assuming all or most of them also made it to the NEWT DADA class
is indeed fully consistent with 25 students total, "at least half" of
them DA members. 
 
Now, what about the Transfiguration NEWT class? I can't find how many
students it contains, but I do count at least seven Gryffindors who
are canonically in it: the trio, Dean, Seamus, Lavender and Parvati.
Might be additional Gryffindors that weren't mentioned, but at least
these seven. So unless you think Gryffindor house alone accounts for
more than half the Transfiguration NEWT class, it must number more
than 12 students total. If you more reasonably assume that Gryffindor
accounts for a quarter of this class then there are *at least* 28
students total. Not bad, Prof. McGonagall.

What about the Charms NEWT class? Again, I count at least seven Gryffs
in this class: the trio, Neville, Dean, Seamus and Lavender. And this
is the subject taught by the *Ravenclaw* head of house. So unless the
Gryffs dominate this class too it must total more students, probably
*much* more, than the Potions NEWT class. 

Overall, I get the quite consistent impression that the average NEWT
class numbers 25-28 students, and the potions class is unusually small.

Neri