siriusblackfoot:

bookish-panda360:

Unpopular Opinion

Severus Snape abused his power as a teacher. No amount of past bullying, ‘you have your mother’s eyes’ quotes or death scenes can justify his verbally abusive tendencies towards school children.

Just saying.

Okay so I see some people in the notes saying “he was just a tough teacher,” etc. and I have some things to say.  I’ve had tough teachers.  And it is true that tough teachers don’t take shit in their classroom and neither did Snape.  It is true that they have high expectations and so did Snape.  Are there times when Harry, Ron, or other students fell short of those expectations in Potions? Definitely. 

BUT.  There is a difference between being a tough teacher and being an asshole who abuses his role as an educator. 

A tough teacher gives you the grade you deserve, and sometimes that is a failing grade, but they tell you why you failed and what you can do better next time. 

An asshole who abuses his role as an educator refuses to help you improve when you are clearly struggling in a class you don’t understand, yet are forced to take for at least your first five years of school.

A tough teacher pushes you to do more than you think you can do because they see your potential and know what you’re capable of, often before you know it yourself.

An asshole who abuses his role as an educator expects too much too soon, then punishes students for not knowing things they have no reason to know yet.  Exhibit A: “What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?” he asks a first year who he knows has not had a magical upbringing!!

A tough teacher knows they know more than you, but wants to help you learn.

An asshole who abuses his role as an educator knows he knows more than you, but never lets you forget it and does not provide an environment in which every student can comfortably learn.

A tough teacher will take points off anyone’s work for mistakes or for a poor job done (or will take points from anyone’s House). They will call anyone out in class if they’re being a little shit, and they will discipline anyone when it’s warranted.

An asshole who abuses his role as an educator picks favorites, disciplines certain students and not others because of his own personal preferences, preconceptions, and grudges, and insults students for things that they cannot control.  

A tough teacher threatens you with detention if your poor performance in class continues.

An asshole who abuses his role as an educator threatens to test your potion on your pet to see if it survives.

IN CONCLUSION:

Minerva McGonagall is a tough teacher.

Severus Snape is an asshole who abuses his role as an educator.