[HPforGrownups] First lesson WAS: Re: Marietta, was Slytherin's Reputation

[Sherry Gomes]

No: HPFGUIDX 185830

Pippin:
An eleven year old has a right to wounds that are too deep for the healing,
but a thirty six year old does not? That is the part I don't understand.



Sherry:
I can't speak for Alla, but in my opinion, of course the 36-year-old has the
right to his emotional wounds, even though they are too deep to heal.  Most
people have some wounds like that; I know I sure do.  But that does not give
the adult, the teacher, the 36-year-old the right to take out those wounded
feelings and reactions on a child.  The responsibility not to act upon those
things lies with an adult.  In the real world, I have no patience for the
attitude that adults can do things from emotionally destructive to criminal,
just because they had bad childhoods, or whatever other excuses they come up
with.  Surely adults can learn how to, if not heal and put those things
aside, how not to punish others, especially children, because of those
wounds.  It's why, for me, nothing Snape does later negates how he treated
Harry all those years.  or how he treated Neville.  He can certainly have
his deep wounds, and I can feel sorrow for the things that caused them, but
he gains no sympathy or acceptance from me for taking it out on kids.  Grow
up, Snape, is what I often found myself thinking with exasperation.  

Sherry