Teaching Styles & Neville

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 157926

> >>Betsy Hp:
> > I think it's more that Potions is a different kind of subject    
> > than Charms or DADA.  So Lupin and Flitwick can build Neville   
> > up, break through his fear, or give him time to make mistakes   
> > and learn from them.  But if Snape did the same thing Neville   
> > could well end up killing himself and/or others.
> <SNIP>

> >>Alla:
> Are you arguing that Potions is more dangerous subject than **any* 
> other subject?

Betsy Hp:
No.  I'm saying Potions is more dangerous than Charms or DADA.  At 
least at this level.  (I can see DADA and Charms reaching a point 
when they become just as dangerous as Potions, but by that point 
you're probably at NEWT levels and the sucky students have been 
tested out.)

> >>Alla:
> Because I don't think that Care of Magical Creatures is a very    
> safe subject either and I don't have my PoA with me, but I 
> seem to remember that Neville was doing pretty good with          
> hypogriffs without Hagrid scaring him out of his mind.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
Neville *was* having trouble actually.  Harry was a bit worried for 
him but then Draco did his bit and Neville was saved.

And actually, that just goes to prove the point.  I think CoMC *can* 
become as dangerous as Potions eventually, depending on the magical 
creature being studied.  Hagrid started the students out with 
dangerous creatures so it *was* a dangerous class.  But he didn't 
drive home the caution the students should have been taking.  He 
didn't scare them enough, and Draco was hurt.  Could easily have 
been killed.

Snape was preventing such an outcome by giving Neville a threat that 
would scare the boy, but at the same time be one that he (Snape) 
could control.  Instill the fear in a reasonable way to prevent the 
sort of injury Draco suffered. 

> >>Alla:
> I mean, really in **all** subjects where he is treated well,      
> Neville **does** well, I think it is that simple. And no, I don't 
> think Mcgonagall treats him well either.

Betsy Hp:
That's true.  But I think there's something to be said about the 
exactness both McGonagall and Snape expect.  I don't think it's 
wrong for them to expect same.  And in Snape's case, it'd be 
downright criminal if he did play fast and loose with his subject.

I agree that Neville doesn't behave well under pressure in PoA.  
(That's the weakness he faces and overcomes in OotP, I think.)  But 
that shouldn't mean that the teachers stop applying it.  I mean, 
yeah if Neville's about to self-destruct, sure.  But he wasn't near 
that at all.

Betsy Hp