[HPforGrownups] Re: Teaching Styles

[Marion Ros]

No: HPFGUIDX 157927

>>>Lupinlore, who thinks a final confrontation between Snape and Neville 
might be even funnier (in a Snapey-poo humiliating kind of way) than 
one between Snape and Harry<<<

Marion:
If, *if*, there ever would be a 'final confrontation' between Snape and Neville, Neville-poo would be mincemeat.
Not so much as Harry-poo would, though (unless JKR pulls a magic bunny out of a hat which magically transforms Harry-poo from a stupid, obstreperous, selfimportant hate-filled dillitante into a smooth, suave duellist) No, indeed. Neville might start out as a kid with performance-angst (err..) but after a few years of Hogwarts, Neville has *learned*. Neville has *grown*. Neville is *capable* and *confident*.
Confidence is not aquired by getting petted on the head and told that you needn't worry if you're bad at something because "we can't all be good at magic/potions/maths". Confidence is aquired by attempting something you think you can't do, perhaps fail the first time, try again and succeeding.

But seriously, I don't think seventeen-year old Neville has such a problem with Snape. Neville has *grown*. Neville might have a problem with Snape killing Dumbledore, but apart from that, Snape does not occupy a large part of Neville's conscious. Why would Neville want to kill/duel/harm Snape? Because he used to be frightened of Snape's sarcastic remarks in class when he was eleven? How many adults still carry a killing-rage grudge against their 'mean schoolteacher' (except Harry)?


Marion, who's still amazed that people who have read how the Dursleys cuddle, schmooch and praise their son and explain away his shortcomings, transform them into virtues and don't expect him to succeed in anything because he's perfect in their eyes no matter *what*, that those people will still insist that the best thing you can do with a child is praise him to death, not expect anything of him, pet him on the head when he fails because this will supposedly give the kid *self-esteem* and *confidence*.

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