Lupin's Briefcase (was Hogwarts Express and the Magic Compartment)

[heathernmoore]

No: HPFGUIDX 31630

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "dmsreg" <richard.reece at s...> wrote:
> Mahoney wrote: 
> Well...does he have to have the paying job to be a professor?  I have 
> no clue, honestly; but if he'd gotten a wizard's PhD, wouldn't he be 
> able to call himself a Professor of Whatever even without a job?  
> --
> 
> I think there is lots of evidence that there is no 
> wizards' "university":
> 
> 1) Not one of the teachers is referred to as "Doctor", which you'd 
> expect at least one to be if there were such a qualification 
> available. They are however referred to as "Professor", a title which 
> in the UK (unlike the US) is restricted to the very top few academics 
> in a University department, suggesting that they have reached the top 
> of the academic tree in the wizarding world.
> 2) No degree or equivalent qualifications appear with all the awards 
> and honours for Dumbledore on the letterhead of Hogwarts (although 
> this might be taken as read I suppose).
> 3) JP and SB are described as brilliant students yet neither appears 
> to have spent time at a University after leaving hogwarts.
> 4) Percy leaves Hogwarts straight to join the ministry, whereas ITRW 
> one would typically "take one's degree" (probably from Oxford or 
> Cambridge) before joining the FCO (UK equivalent of the US State 
> Department or the Dpt for Intl Mag Coop).
> 5) JKR would otherwise be less certain that there will be only seven 
> books or she's instantly given away that at least one of HRH dies at 
> the end of book seven.
> 
> I think we have to assume that there cannot therefore be a PhD or 
> equivalent qualification for advanced wizards and witches. Perhaps 
> this explains the existence of "Orders of Merlin" awards, which would 
> otherwise be unusual in a civilian arena.
> 
> It's always interested me that most of the teachers are given the 
> title "Professor" whereas people like Madam Hooch are not. Either 
> there is still the idea that one has to earn the title (rather 
> than it being a generic term of office for a teacher), or possibly 
> flying is not considered an academic discipline. That Moody and Lupin 
> returned to instant "professordom" despite apparently having no 
> previous teaching experience might be taken as a sign of some honour, 
> or it might be that they just teach the "right" subjects. 
> 
> Perhaps JKR has university lecturer envy!!
> 
> Either way, if he did not pick up the title only a few months before 
> coming to Hogwarts, there's some interesting back history there. It's 
> more probable that the faded lettering is a minor continuity error 
> made whilst painting a picture of the character.
> 
> Reg 


  Hrm... now I wonder if he may have taught a term or so at Durmstrang of Beaubatons or one of the second-tier European boarding schools in the past.

 Very enlightening post, Reg... thanks!