Academic Snobbishness

Introduction:
Snobbery in academia can involve academics, students and members of the public, and can be
based on degrees, disciplines, cliques and other categories. Though snobbery is seldom treated as a
significant issue, it can have damaging effects on morale, research and public image. Strategies against
snobbery include avoidance, private feedback, formal complaints and public challenges.
Discussion:
Academic snobbery comes in multiple forms - for instance, connected with a persons university,
field of study or position. Teachers who are on short-term contracts may not be treated as real
colleagues. At conferences junior scholars may be ignored by leading figures in the field. Those at the
bottom of the status hierarchy are invisible. This sort of environment breeds snobbery. Many students
gain their sense of value from their peers and from their achievements at school and university. Snide
comments about their clothes, tastes and intellectual skills can be deeply hurtful.

However, this type of snobbery has consequences beyond the immediate effects on peoples
emotions. When teachers make belittling comments about students, it can cause some students to quit.
Some junior scholars may even reject an academic career because of the patronising attitudes of senior
figures.

Another possible consequence for universities is that relevant questions and concerns are not
addressed because they dont come from the right sorts of people. Or research findings may be ignored
because they come from the wrong discipline.

Snobbery is not good for universities in another way. If members of the public think academics
are inflated with self-importance, they are less likely to support universities when it comes to funding or
academic freedom.

Arrogance is the main problem of everybody, but it would seem that the academic is particularly
susceptible to this vise. This essence of the original sin consisted of man and woman arrogantly telling
God, I know better than you, I think the fruits look good and I will trust my own senses, my own
reason, rather than take you at your word.

The know-it-all attitude of the undergraduate student at a university; the willingness to expound
at great lengths on any and every subject on the part of the graduate student; the confident airs put on by
the college or university professor all of these are examples of academic arrogance. Academic
arrogance is unfortunately all too common, and is enhanced, no doubt, by the attitude that persists in our
society that the university-educated person or the educated professional are somehow superior to those
who have received only a high-school education.

Academic arrogance is wrong, first of all, because being arrogant to someone is not a good
attitude even though you have already finished your degree that you take. No matter what brilliant you
are or how well educated one might be; ones knowledge is very puny. Academic are also dont really
have an edge over the simple minded in terms of avoiding problems of closed mindedness,
bigotry, or self deception. Knowledge is no guarantee of virtue; education is no cure all for the ills of
society, as is so often assumed. It may perhaps be cloaked in more sophisticated forms, but sophisticated
evil is still evil.

Academic arrogance is not only wrong because it is without much foundation, and hence really
un-academic; it is also wrong because of its religious significance. It involves rebellion against God. The
Christian academic therefore must be particularly on guard against the sin of arrogance.
Christian academics always acknowledge God as the source of all truth. They see themselves,
not as the creators, but as the discoverers of truth. The Christian mind is always aware of its limitations.
Christians should always be careful not to give the impression that they have all the answers. We dont!
We only know in part. We only see through a glass darkly (I Cor. 13: 9,12).

Conclusion:
I conclude that EDUCATION is the best weapon of someone, but dont use your knowledge for
unnecessary attitude take can be affect others, use it in a helpful way. Dont be an arrogant, perhaps use
our knowledge to help others and share them what we know.

Reference:
Elmer John Thiessens Blog
A Christian Mind ( October 23, 1981) Mennonite Brethen Herald
http://theconversation.com/snobbery-in-the-academy-is-alive-and-well-and-doing-harm-32037