Patterico's Pontifications

5/15/2014

Mandatory Power And Privilege Training

Filed under: General — Dana @ 7:46 am



[guest post by Dana]

Administration officials at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University have reached an agreement with student activists to force “mandatory power and privilege training” on incoming students during orientation.

The student group calling themselves ‘Speak Out’ will meet with the Dean in order to obtain funding for the program, as well as seeing that the training becomes ‘institutionalized throughout the school’.

Apparently, this training is viewed by students as necessary for all future public leaders to be effective.

We could not grapple with hard questions about the role of government, the impact of a particular social welfare program, or the root cause of poverty. To consider these questions, we needed the additional benefit of interdisciplinary frameworks from fields like sociology, gender studies, and ethnic studies. Without understanding the socio-historical context in which policy is made, we cannot analyze the disparate ways various groups are affected by public policy, nor can we determine the best path forward.

The exercise of public leadership must draw upon more than the principles of organizational management, the tactics of negotiation science, or the psychology of implicit biases. It requires an honest assessment of structural power dynamics, of in-group and out-group dynamics, and of privilege. It requires that we continue to dissect the ways in which social structures operate to endow some individuals with certain advantages, and others with marked disadvantages. It requires that we remain critically attuned to power dynamics, both micro and macro, that undergird the institutions many of us will operate within throughout our careers.

No explanation given on how past and current public leaders have managed to be successful.

–Dana

52 Responses to “Mandatory Power And Privilege Training”

  1. “No explanation given on how past and current public leaders have managed to be successful.” I have a simple, two-word explanation for you: White Privilege. Conveniently, it answers pretty much every question about the problems in today’s society.

    Bru (fcf32d)

  2. it sounds very tedious and deeply silly to normal people

    but Harvard trash have always had their little tics

    happyfeet (8ce051)

  3. This represents microaggression.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  4. How about a mandatory training session in check your silly ideology?

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  5. First, I cannot believe how cowardly the administration is to fold so easily to a few loudmouths.

    Second, this girl wants a classroom about governance to be “a safe place”? Good grief, girl wait till you hit the real world. Politics ain’t beanbag.

    Patricia (be0117)

  6. Squirtness graduates Kindergarten in two weeks.

    On tap this summer, 2nd Theatre Camp, Team Soccer, Art Camp, Level Three Swim Lessons and, not least, tubing on Big Mabel, hiking trails in State Parks, etc.

    I’m sure Harvard will still be above water when her time comes I just doubt it can meet her need.

    gary gulrud (e2cef3)

  7. I wish there was a guarantee about that post-racial, post-partisan America thing we were told would come after Senator Obama was elected President, and a place to get a refund.

    Nobody with two communicating neurons should make the mistake of thinking this is a perfect nation,
    but if they want to talk about human rights, how about starting where people are still captured and forced into slavery.
    Unfortunately, a “little bit” of that happens on some streets in America, if not so blatant.

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  8. We all must wait for instructions from the Sociology, Gender Studies, and Ethnic Studies gurus to enforce a final solution that will cleanse the future of privileged people so the world will be safe for dunderheads and totalitarian assholes.

    ropelight (67ba9f)

  9. I had trouble thinking of anything more appropriate.

    Completely safe.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yTwD7U_XV4

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  10. We regret having to infringe your personal rights; but in the cause of Humanity, it is necessary.

    nk (dbc370)

  11. Well how else are they going to drum up jobs for sociology, gender studies, and ethnic studies majors?

    DejectedHead (a094a6)

  12. Exactly, Dejected Head.

    nk (dbc370)

  13. They should just have a showing of Idiocracy, and be one with it.

    hadoop (f7d5ba)

  14. one s/b done

    hadoop (f7d5ba)

  15. I hope the dean checks his privilege before the meeting.

    MacGruber (6cfe93)

  16. Not just for students. But not to be openly discussed.

    The best advice in EOAC-3000 is on the cover: “DO NOT USE ON THE JOB.”

    Steve57 (fca12c)

  17. The power and privilege on campus is with the lefties. Remember, some people are more equal than others.

    AZ Bob (c949f7)

  18. Thanks, steve. Good article. And the beat goes on…

    felipe (b5e0f4)

  19. We could not grapple with hard questions about the role of government, the impact of a particular social welfare program, or the root cause of poverty. To consider these questions, we needed the additional benefit of interdisciplinary frameworks from fields like sociology, gender studies, and ethnic studies.

    Translation: we are so fornicating stupid that we can’t figure things out without asking otherwise unemployable people from crap disciplines their unsupported opinions.

    The amused Dana (3e4784)

  20. Good grief, girl wait till you hit the real world. Politics ain’t beanbag.

    She never will. I see a career in the EPA or the IRS in her future.

    Mike K (cd7278)

  21. I’m all for this under one condition: All Harvard students attend and the course is taught by the Harvard dorms janitors and maids.

    Kevin M (b357ee)

  22. After all, there are no unprivileged kids at Harvard. Not. A. One.

    For that matter, Americans are all quite privileged compared to everyone else in the world. But I guess that doesn’t move the ego meters quite so much as this BS.

    Kevin M (b357ee)

  23. This represents microaggression.

    I’d argue for milliaggression at least.

    Kevin M (b357ee)

  24. All Harvard students attend and the course is taught by the Harvard dorms janitors and maids.

    Even the janitor who solves complex math problems while mopping the floor?

    MacGruber (6cfe93)

  25. I like your website, “amused Dana”. I do not watch TV, so thank you (and poster Yorkshire) for the Trey Gowdy presser video, I completely missed it.

    felipe (098e97)

  26. MacGruber #24,

    Next thing we know, that janitor will be dating someone who looks like Minnie Driver.

    Elephant Stone (6a6f37)

  27. They’re just doing this at the Kennedy School of Govt, in order to honor the grad school’s namesake when he famously said,

    Ask not what you can do for your country, but ask how you can make an Orwellian claim of victim status.”

    —John F. Kennedy

    Elephant Stone (6a6f37)

  28. but ask what you can say your country did to you. ?

    Sammy Finkelman (d22d64)

  29. Now, the quote would be, “Ask not why your President and your country is doing all these things to you.” #hashtag mypresidentisanidiot

    Elephant Stone (6a6f37)

  30. An NGO I’ve done work with has a working “Unity Committee”, which basically does nothing but issue lame PC rules for other people volunteering for the NGO to live by, which are uniformly ignored.

    From time to time people would suggest eliminating this seemingly useless committee. My retort: But then the members might join YOUR committee.

    That shuts them up all right.

    Kevin M (b357ee)

  31. It’s all magical thinking. Religion has a place in society. Were that religious leaders were reasonsible. If they were, they wouldn’t be advocating that the next incarnation of Joseph Stalin redistribute income.

    bobathome (312f53)

  32. #3 daleyrocks

    Ref microaggression: yes, I *AM* feeling “triggered”.

    Now, who do I complain to? I’m not only “offended”, the very idea makes me “anxious” and “fearful” as well.

    THIS OPPRESSION BY THOSE HARVARD ELITES *MUST* BE STOPPED !!!!!!

    A_Nonny_Mouse (465486)

  33. Here, this might possibly bear on why urban US kids achieve at third world levels:

    http://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/terence-p-jeffrey/dc-schools-29349-pupil-83-not-proficient-reading

    gary gulrud (e2cef3)

  34. “Now, who do I complain to? I’m not only “offended”, the very idea makes me “anxious” and “fearful” as well.”

    A_Nonny_Mouse – Seek advice here:

    http://townhall.com/columnists/kurtschlichter/2014/05/12/i-checked-my-privilege-and-its-doing-just-fine-n1835970/page/full

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  35. TRIGGER WARNING !!!!!

    JD (2d7b3f)

  36. JD:

    CHECK YOUR PRIVILEGE!!

    Or not, it’s up to you.

    Ag80 (eb6ffa)

  37. No Justice, No Peace!

    ATTICA, ATTICA, ATTICA

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  38. Now narciso, don’t be so darned rigid. It’s good for these Dartmouth yoot to hear contrasting ideas and opinions.
    Oh wait!

    elissa (b0eb09)

  39. JUMP THE SHARK. Fonzie is going to JUMP THE SHARK!!! We sit here like f@#$#@g SLOBS, and we TAKE THIS SH@#. This! THIS! Is where LIBS come from. Harvard is a Joke. What KNOWLEDGE does Harvard impart, that is superior to ANY OTHER UNIVERSITY??? FUKKKKING DELUSIONAL NONSENSE.

    Gus (70b624)

  40. btw, when Carlitos drops by;

    http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/science/article4091344.ece

    narciso (3fec35)

  41. Not a lot seems to be among the approved sources, WaPo, NYT, Pravda.ru,..

    gary gulrud (e2cef3)

  42. Felipe wrote:

    I like your website, “amused Dana”. I do not watch TV, so thank you (and poster Yorkshire) for the Trey Gowdy presser video, I completely missed it.

    [Takes bow.] Thank you. Thank you very much.

    The appreciative Dana (3e4784)

  43. My privilege is that I don’t have to ask, “Would you like fries with that?” to earn money to feed my family. And it is also my privilege that I went to college before they became places in which people who earned degrees from them need to learn how to ask, “Would you like fries with that?” to get a job.

    The very privileged Dana (3e4784)

  44. Mr Stone wrote:

    Next thing we know, that janitor will be dating someone who looks like Minnie Driver.

    Or Minnie Pearl. Howdy!

    The Southern Dana (3e4784)

  45. Comment by Gus (70b624) — 5/15/2014 @ 10:39 pm

    What KNOWLEDGE does Harvard impart, that is superior to ANY OTHER UNIVERSITY??? FUKKKKING DELUSIONAL NONSENSE.

    Somebody who went there wrote a book arguing that back around 1969.

    Sammy Finkelman (bcd7c8)

  46. Taking food out the mouths of bureaucrats:

    In the past two weeks residents in Hawaii noticed what appeared to be a crazed individual carrying a sledgehammer through the streets of Honolulu, a state lawmaker looking to rid the city of homeless people by targeting their belongings.

    State Representative Tom Brower (D) is currently dedicated to dealing out his own personal brand of “justice” by seeking out homeless people and destroying their possessions. Brower estimates that he has used the sledgehammer to smash at least 30 shopping carts, rendering them useless by bashing in the front wheels.

    “I got tired of telling people I’m trying to pass laws. I want to do something practical that will really clean up the streets,” he told Hawaii News Now. “I find abandoned junk, specifically shopping carts, and I remove them.”

    gary gulrud (e2cef3)

  47. I need the time cause my dog died of the bloat eating my homework and it was Granma’s dog and I have to mix their ashes over the Phoenix desert, and her estate mandates the trip be by Greyhound coachliner.

    http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2014/05/16/exclusive-irs-stonewalling-foia-request-for-information-about-agent-correspondence-with-congress-n1839060

    gary gulrud (e2cef3)


Powered by WordPress.

Page loaded in: 0.1046 secs.