Because what actually builds self-esteem is mastery, and overcoming challenges. In these books, Neville is a good example of that, and I have a feeling that, though he did need the boosts Remus and Harry gave him, Severus did more to educate him than most readers realize.
I agree with you. There's a couple things about Neville that are never stated (on reflection, that's probably a good thing), but which seem very likely to me.
One is that while Neville is obviously scared of Snape, he never, ever--even when he's fighting against him--seems to view him as a horrible person or gives in to hatred. When he overcomes his boggart, he more or less gets over his Snape-phobia. And while he never does well in Potions, he quietly continues to learn from Snape. (I think the only Neville-Snape mention we get post-POA is hearing that Neville had to disembowel toads in GoF.)
Second, by facing up to the boggart-Snape in PoA, Neville starts steeling himself through Snape. As I said above, he continues quietly facing up to Snape--not through conflict as Harry does, but through endurance. I think this is key to the Neville we see in DH.
Lupin's lesson was necessary to him, and Harry's teaching of the D.A. also mattered tremendously. But I think it was the constant pressure of getting through Potions that enabled Neville to reform the D.A. in DH and persevere throughout that long year, even when Luna and Ginny were taken away as supports.
There is no one method of teaching that is going to reach every student. Some students need coddling, and some need challenge.
no subject
I agree with you. There's a couple things about Neville that are never stated (on reflection, that's probably a good thing), but which seem very likely to me.
One is that while Neville is obviously scared of Snape, he never, ever--even when he's fighting against him--seems to view him as a horrible person or gives in to hatred. When he overcomes his boggart, he more or less gets over his Snape-phobia. And while he never does well in Potions, he quietly continues to learn from Snape. (I think the only Neville-Snape mention we get post-POA is hearing that Neville had to disembowel toads in GoF.)
Second, by facing up to the boggart-Snape in PoA, Neville starts steeling himself through Snape. As I said above, he continues quietly facing up to Snape--not through conflict as Harry does, but through endurance. I think this is key to the Neville we see in DH.
Lupin's lesson was necessary to him, and Harry's teaching of the D.A. also mattered tremendously. But I think it was the constant pressure of getting through Potions that enabled Neville to reform the D.A. in DH and persevere throughout that long year, even when Luna and Ginny were taken away as supports.
There is no one method of teaching that is going to reach every student. Some students need coddling, and some need challenge.