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/r/hp/: I think Snape was actually very good at teaching

Discussion in 'The Humor Mill' started by James, Jan 5, 2016.

  1. James

    James Unspeakable

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    I randomly wandered to /r/harrypotter/ and found this thread there that I have need to share with you all.

    For additional rage read comments.
     
  2. Republic

    Republic The Snow Queen –§ Prestigious §– DLP Supporter

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    I don't see how this warranted its own thread, but on the purposes of not shitposting, I will say that the redditor is full of shit, is almost entirely wrong in all accounts and that no, under no stretch or educational concept was Snape a good teacher except as an example to avoid.
     
  3. Seratin

    Seratin Proudmander –§ Prestigious §– DLP Supporter

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    We have so many discussions about Snape and whether he was good/bad both as a teacher and a human that basing yet another thread off of a reddit discussion seems quite pointless.
     
  4. Nuit

    Nuit Dark Lord

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    irregardless
     
  5. Stan

    Stan Order Member

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    Well, it does show that Snape is good at teaching stuff when he isn't trying to teach at all.

    Beyond that, this thread seems rather pointless.
     
  6. James

    James Unspeakable

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    Fuck, are we running out of threads?

    I thought the stupidity of the opinion was quite extraordinary and shared it with you, The Humor Mill didn't seem like a place for it and we don't have a thread for 'Extraordinarily misguided canon opinions'.
     
  7. Republic

    Republic The Snow Queen –§ Prestigious §– DLP Supporter

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    Making a thread for every stupid and/or ridiculous reddit theory is not a great hobby.
     
  8. ScottPress

    ScottPress The Horny Sovereign –§ Prestigious §– DLP Supporter

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    To the contrary, Humor Mill seems like the perfect place for this, because it's funny. Notice this redditor calls Voldemort YKW. Fear of the name has this one in such a grasp they must use an abbreviation even for that silly moniker. (S)He has a long way to go. We at DLP, in clever contrast to our collective's name, are enlightened in all matters HP. We should take pity on this lost soul.
     
  9. James

    James Unspeakable

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    Well then, thanks. Could a moderator please move this to The Humor Mill?
     
  10. Sesc

    Sesc Slytherin at Heart Moderator

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    No, because for the sake of it, I'll argue that Snape would have been a fantastic teacher for me.

    I have the ability to ignore just about any insult if I want to, and I appreciate getting told 'do this' and then be left to figure out how.

    Then again, given that I would have produced adequate results, chances are the Snape-equivalent would have tolerated me quite reasonably in the first place, but there you go.
     
  11. Erotic Adventures of S

    Erotic Adventures of S Denarii Host

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    Snape seems the type of teacher who only tries with good students.

    Because he himself is so gifted I think he could probably be ok with advanced students, but is shit and hates teaching idiots.
     
  12. James

    James Unspeakable

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    He'd be still shit teacher and you'd do well regardless of it. His input (since you're now ignoring him) to your knowledge would be exactly zero—and that's just plain bad teaching.
     
  13. vlad

    vlad Banned ~ Prestige ~

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    To be slightly fair to Snape, what little we see of transfiguration and charms classes is "here's an incantation, make it work." Further clarification is limited to "don't fuck up or you'll be squashed by a buffalo."

    Snape fosters a hostile environment, but his schtick of throwing up a potions recipie and telling them to get on with it isn't exactly against the norms at Hogwarts.

    Also, Sesc, Snape would figure you out and replace insults with adressing you by your given name. Or putting potions ingredients *almost* in a logical order.
     
  14. Russano

    Russano Disappeared

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    Snape has a genius understanding of potions and obviously had a solid curriculum. It's likely that as far as actual knowledge was concerned that he was a pretty good teacher. His attitude undermining his students in horrendous ways, however is a major teaching flaw.
     
  15. Zel

    Zel High Inquisitor

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    Umbridge commented that his class was 'surprisingly advanced'. Now whether we can trust her judgement or not is an entirely different matter. I, for one, don't think I would have a problem with his teaching methods, sure he is a dick and I probably would bitch a lot about his attitude, but as long as I'm learning and not being singled out like Neville everything would be fine.
     
  16. Sesc

    Sesc Slytherin at Heart Moderator

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    Yes, and input zero > hearing boring shit that's obvious and I already know and/or want to figure out myself. That was kinda my point.

    But if you're on board that the quality of teaching is relative and not absolute, we aren't that far apart, I think. I had a teacher in high school that I really liked, who didn't give a fuck if someone didn't do homework, spent the lesson reading magazines or talking or ignored him entirely. Only, since he was supposed to grade them, they paid for it dearly because not participating in class == fail.

    You could argue that's shit teaching, because his job is to teach people stuff and not have them fail, only, it was very convenient for me, because I could basically study things as I wanted and wasn't forced to do stuff just because that's what he said. I thought the course was great. Others couldn't stand his face.


    And in that way, since we only do see Snape through Harry's eyes, it's possible enough he's a shit teacher for Harry (and Neville), but actually reasonable for e.g. Ravenclaws.


    vlad: XD
     
  17. prtclehysics

    prtclehysics Third Year

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    That post summarizes a running theme in "Severitis" type stories, that clearly its Harry's fault that the person who explicitly hates him for the first three books is to be pitied and clearly its Harry who needs to grow up. I don't understand the logic but it is what it is.
     
  18. ashland

    ashland Second Year

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    I can't find my PS book to make certain, but I think Flitwick spent up until Halloween going over theory and he also demonstrated the wand movements for the Levitation Charm. Harry mentioned McGonagall going over things as well in HBP when he says that everything was so confusing even Hermione had to ask for clarification. I think there's examples of her going over things in PS and POA as well. We see evidence of Sprout, Lupin, and even Crouch Junior clarifying things.
     
  19. ScottPress

    ScottPress The Horny Sovereign –§ Prestigious §– DLP Supporter

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    That's not really an argument for Snape being a good teacher, rather one for everyone on Hogwarts' staff lacking in teaching skills.

    Personally, I don't think Snape was a good teacher. Attitude is a part of any job.

    Compare to a surgeon who leaves the operating room. He did his best, but the patient died. He goes to the family and is like, "Sorry, he's dead." And then he turns and just leaves. Hey, he did his part, right?

    It's great when your teacher is knowledgeable and skilled. But if he hardly gives a shit, is he a good teacher? Hey, he's doing his part, right? He says what's what, what goes where and why. If he does it with a sour face or he puts you down, that's your problem.

    In my subjective opinion, no, Snape wasn't a good teacher, though I would say it was largely a function of his being a shitty person.
     
    Last edited: Jan 5, 2016
  20. vlad

    vlad Banned ~ Prestige ~

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    ashland

    Which is why I didn't mention them.

    If evidence regarding Flitwick and McGonagall proves to be correct, I shall retract. But my memory is more "incantation is X, wand movement is Y, practice it on the object in front of you."

    ScottPress

    Sure. But it perhaps says more of the wizarding society's views on teaching than the individual in question.
     
    Last edited: Jan 5, 2016
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