I see a similar mentality in professors who boast of a low pass rate in their courses, like it's a good thing. They're trying to signal "this is a hard course,

I see a similar mentality in professors who boast of a low pass rate in their courses, like it's a good thing. They're trying to signal "this is a hard course, only the smartest folks can get through it. Plebs need not apply." But I feel the truth is closer to "I'm not a skilled teacher, and I have no interest in improving my skills". The difference in teaching philosophy of these profs vs the ones who actually teach is the difference between a fashion model school and the army. The latter accepts anyone and trains them to succeed whereas modelling schools only accept good looking people to begin with.