<p>. . . by a former Social Studies lecturer, followed by a chorus of responses:</p>
<p>Times</a> Higher Education - All the privileged must have prizes</p>
<p>
[quote]
The banality and sense of entitlement of rich students at Harvard left John H. Summers feeling his teaching had been degraded to little more than a service to prepare clients for monied careers
[/quote]
</p>
<p>(P.S. And here's a piece, by a former Yale English professor, that touches on some of the same issues:
The</a> American Scholar - The Disadvantages of an Elite Education - By William Deresiewicz)</p>
<p>Haha, here are some direct quotes from students of his (none of whom would be considered 'privileged' in even the remotest sense of the word if they didn't go to Harvard).</p>
<p>"John was my TF in SocStud 10 and I had a miserable time. Thankfully I was granted a transfer to another section after the first semester. "</p>
<p>"That whole article reeked of some very personal bitterness that he was going through. He was a *<strong><em>ty teacher and a *</em></strong>ty human being, and he nearly ruined my sophomore year for me. I'm actually surprised that such an inappropriate article was published by such a major newspaper..."</p>
<p>"the author, John Summers, was a Social Studies tutor for Kirkland two years ago, and, you know, tried to crush my soul."</p>
<p>And actually, here's two more that pretty perfectly sum it up (one funny, one well-though out)</p>
<p>"I was in this guy's tutorial, also. My opinion isn't universal for those who had him, and in fairness, some did seem to have a good relationship with him, so I'm speaking for myself here. </p>
<p>It's ironic that he talks about entitlement, because he was the single most entitled person I've ever met. Not money, of course, becasue that would be below intellectual elitists of his caliber. Rather, he felt entitled to prestige, marginalized because he wasn't getting it, and bitter about the entire affair. If he felt his pay was a pittance, than he matched his teaching and feedback efforts to his pay. I learned to expect little from him, and often received less.</p>
<p>Except rancor. I was definitely on the receiving end of some personal rancor. So forgive me if I seem unable to engage his argument seriously."</p>
<p>"I was reading this on my blackberry when I spilled caviar on it, and subsequently threw it at my waiter, striking him in the head and knocking him unconscious. Of course, my daddy got me out of hock with the police, because we're rich and money buys everything, including my 3.9 at Harvard..... oh wait</p>
<p>Wait. This isn't me at all.... or 97% of the student body here. What an *******. "</p>
<p>Apparently this guy was terrible and bitter, I'm in Kirkland House and people strongly disliked him. Whoever said the thing about he himself feeling entitled is true. I hate when articles like this by bitter people come out--it gives Harvard an undeserved bad name. Maybe my experience is skewed (though I doubt it) but I have only met maybe one or two people who I can truly say fit the obnoxious Harvard stereotype.</p>