[Assam] Harvard College ranking drops-obstinate teachers

[umesh sharma]

Hi,
   
  http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/t1natudoc_brief.php
  In this year's college ranks of Harvard College (for those who join after High School) came down to no. 2 --after being tied with Princeton for the past three years. It seems sensing competiton from Princeton -Harvard's erstwhile President was trying to rbing sea change in the learning environment . He was popular with a lot of students and took pains to be responsive and engaging to the students. But perhaps keeping the students' interests in mind maynot have seemed the best of strategies to many professors -who forced him out -when he tried to change the Dean of Harvard College.
   
  Subsequently, it seems many aspiring students, peers and alumni have lost a bit of faith in its future -givn the upheaval's in its leadership-with many donors refusing to honor their pledges for donations of up to $250 million -such as Rockefeller and Larry Alison of Oracle etc. Harvard President Summers has been made to go on exile -for atleast one year and replaced by one of 70s era. Way to go .
   
  For a guy whose first term started the day before Sep 11 bombings of NYC -he did very well in trying to bring USA's oldest Univ. and corporation -to terms with realties of 21st century - incl. globalization, competitiveness and modern appraoches. It semed strange that my professors at the School of Education (ranked first in US for long) discussed innovative teaching strategies used at Harvard's Business and Medical Schools -with whom it had linkages-but never discussed those of Harvard College. It seems Harvard College never tried to seek consultancy from its colleagues at the School of Education -who give advice to everyone else. http://www.gse.harvard.edu/news_events/features/2006/08/16_mclaughlin.html
   
  Harvard's President Summers did engage with the School of Education but it seems many from Faculty of Arts and Sciences (which is the main body of teachers at Harvard College -who kicked him out) think it below their prestige to seek advice to improve their teaching strategies . Harvard should reinstate its president?
   
  What do you think of this case study?
   
  Umesh
  PS:  http://www.president.harvard.edu/speeches/2006/0221_summers.html his letter
   
  http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/daily/2006/02/21-summers.html news release
   
  http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/daily/2006/02/21-board.pdf Corp.'s letter
   
   


Umesh Sharma
5121 Lackawanna ST
College Park, MD 20740

 1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]

Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005

weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/
 		
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