Did any of the Headmasters of Hogwarts ever teach after becoming Headmaster?
Were there any constraints which prevented them from teaching?
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1Dumbledore offered Harry what could be considered private tuition...– ValorumApr 18, 2015 at 15:31
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2@Richard - FWIW, in US, tuition usually refers to the monies being paid for education, and the teaching itself is "private tutoring" or "private instruction".– DVK-on-Ahch-ToApr 18, 2015 at 21:46
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1Especially given that HP is a book written in British English, and set in the UK, it seems reasonable that a British English term (like private tuition) be used in discussion.– ssmartApr 18, 2015 at 23:10
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3@ssmart That's fine, but it bears explanation as well, since US readers (who probably make up a significant portion of visitors) are likely to be very confused by the phrase.– jpmc26Apr 19, 2015 at 2:15
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1Note, It's not just British people who use that term, it is completely fine in Aus/NZ as well, and presumably SA/Canada)– ScottApr 19, 2015 at 8:56
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2 Answers
I don’t think there’s anything preventing the head from teaching.
I can think of at least two instances in which the acting head teacher was teaching regular classes to students.
Minerva McGonagall, during Dumbledore’s absence in Harry’s second year.
In Chamber of Secrets, Dumbledore is suspended by the Governors, and McGonagall takes over as acting headmistress. There is no indication that she does not continue teaching Transfiguration during this time.
Dolores Umbridge, during Dumbledore’s absence in Harry’s fifth year.
In Order of the Phoenix, she managers to temporarily remove Dumbledore and declare herself Headmistress. (Note, however, that the Head’s office refuses to acknowledge her, and will not allow her to enter.) She continues to teach Harry and co. in DADA up to their O.W.L. teams.
It seems likely that most head teachers would choose to give up teaching when they took up the position (as the workload of running the school and teaching multiple classes is probably too much for one individual), but there doesn’t seem to be a rule or enchantment preventing them from doing so.
answered Apr 18, 2015 at 15:57
No, but being a headmaster and doing all the other Dumbledore-y stuff, I don't think Dumbledore would have the time to teach a class. When McGonagall becomes acting headmistress in book 6, after the death of Dumbledore she continues teaching transfiguration.
