The Overarching message - Caning

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 191634



--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "James Lyon" <jnoyl at ...> wrote:
>
> > James Lyon:
> > I learned that hook-nosed, greasy-haired gits who abuse children 
> > ...
> 
> > Nikkalmati:
> > SIGH. Some people will never get over the fact that JKR tricked 
> > them. You apparently swallowed the red herring of "evil Snape" 
> > ...
> 
> 
> James:
> Note: I stand by what I said and Nikkalmati proves my point.
> He abuses children--daily--in the books. ...
> 
> -- 


Steve:

Let's be careful about appling modern standards to behavior that mirrors that of a Century or more ago. 

In Britian, Caning, the practice of repeatedly striking boy's back sides with a Ratan cane, didn't, more or less, stop until 1987. And it was also common practice in USA schools, though they favored hickory or willow. 

Catholic schools were positively brutal. Compared to many common school practices, Snape looks positively tame. 

Next, while Snape might be a totally unpleasant person, that's not the same as abuse; and I mean true abuse. In previous discussion we find that a great many people have a very soft idea of what constitutes abuse. Teacher are not your friends, nor should the be. This idea that everyone should always love you is a thoroughly and very modern concept. 

As Shaun, our resident teacher from Australia has pointed out in previous discussion, the strictest teacher he had, the teacher he hated most in the moment, is the teacher he most admired in the long run. 

Is Snape pretty rough on Harry? Yes. But rough and abuse are not the same thing. As to those times when he was somewhat rough, it was to an end; it was for a purpose. For example, the lessons to teach Harry to close his mind. I think Snape could have used more productive methods, but this was a critical and vital matter. One that had the potential to save Harry's life if he was prematurely confronted by Voldemort or any of his more advanced DE's. These were not normal lessons and these were not normal circumstances, and yes, with absolute certainty it annoyed the hell out of Harry, even made him angry. But annoyance and anger do not constitute abuse by any real standard. 

One could say that Quidditch, or Rugby, or European or American Football should not be allowed because they are 'abusive', they are physical 'brutal' to play. Yet, millions of kids eagerly participate and enjoy those sports. And while we are at it, let's add boxing, wrestling, judo, and karate to the mix. (All Olympic sports.)

Yes, Snape was a miserable and wholly unpleasant person, but you are operating under a delusion if you think every single person you meet in your life is somehow obligated to be pleasant to you. 

Just a few thoughts on a highly polarizing subject that has been discussed many times before and never with a clear consensus.

Steve/bbboyminn