Professor

The term **Professor** is granted to educational teachers and scholars engaged in research in the wizarding world. They appear throughout the *Harry Potter book series*.

## About

### Education

In teaching, the term Professor is granted only to those who teach in a school. In the wizarding world, wizarding schools are boarding schools and teachers could live at the school. Known schools of teachers who have the title of Professor include Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Durmstrang Institute.

At Hogwarts, they have the power to give and take House points, and give out detentions and special permissions to students when they needed. They have their own apartment in the school, and the Head of House will have one probably near their House common room (e.g. Professor McGonagall could hear her House partying from wherever she was sleeping). Teachers should ideally be experienced (knowledgeable and skilled) in their field, with an O.W.L. or N.E.W.T. grade. However, the Headteacher can give a teaching post to a person who doesn't have any formal education if they were knowledgeable enough like Rubeus Hagrid.

The Headteacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is appointed and suspended by a Board of Governors. A temporary Headteacher is appointed when the Headteacher was suspended. The Headteacher appoints teachers and they could be given other roles including Deputy Headteacher and Head of House. Professors can eat in the Great Hall at the High Table and they have a staff-room. Teacher get free hours throughout a school day, like when Professor McGonagall was in her office when Professor Umbridge was teaching.

Teachers can fill in for others if they are unable to attend their lesson, even if it's not for a subject they teach. If the school is in danger, teachers patrol the corridors. The Head of House has career counselling sessions for fifth-years about to take their O.W.L.s. At the beginning of their sixth-year, the Head of House will approve the subjects of their choice for N.E.W.T.s depending on if they have achieved the necessary O.W.L. grade. They give guidance if they have not. Each teacher provides an exam to their students at the end of the year.

It is possible for a teacher to switch what subject they teach. Professors cou need to be a certain age to be granted a teaching job. Professor Dippet thought that Tom Riddle was too young at eighteen to teach, but Professor McGonagall was accepted at the age of twenty-one. Teachers can take time off to research their subject instead of teaching.

The government has a certain level of control in education and intervened when they thought it was needed. Professor Umbridge was given powers and rights beyond that of an average Professor when the government imposed an Educational Decree to appoint her.

### Scholars

If a scholar is engaged in research, they could have the title of Professor too. They don't have to teach per se but they can write books like Vindictus Viridian did, or get involved with marking examinations like Professor Tofty.

## Notes and sources

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, Chapter 16
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*, Chapter 5
3. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*, Chapter 9
4. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, Chapter 5
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*, Chapter 15
6. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*, Chapter 7
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*, Chapter 16
8. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*, Chapter 12
9. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, Chapter 9
10. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*, Chapter 16
11. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*, Chapter 29
12. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*, Chapter 9
13. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*, Chapter 8
14. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*, Chapter 20
15. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*, Chapter 31