How Can Schools Be More Equitable?

 

There is often confusion between equity and equality. I believe this photo gives a visual definition of the two. The picture on the left represents equity when it comes to the children being the same height. In order for them all to be the same height, the girl on the left needs two blocks to help her be level with the tallest student. The middle student only needs one block to get him level with them all. The last student on the right is already the tallest so he does not need any assistance from the blocks to be level with his classmates. This demonstrates equity because everyone is given the same opportunity, but the amount support the get depends on how much then need to be equal to the others. The image to the right demonstrates equality, each student is seen standing on one red block, but you can see that they are not level to each other. Although they are each receiving the same amount of assistance, they are still not equal. Schools can be more equitable by providing students with not all the same amount of assistance, but assistance based off their needs so there are equal opportunities for them all. School populations are made up with numerous students from different incomes, backgrounds, and cultures. Especially when it comes to poverty in the classroom, those student may need more resources than the rest of their classmates. According to one of our readings this week, The Myth of the Culture of Poverty, there is no culture of poverty, it is just a handful of stereotypes based of those who have a low income. Schools and teachers often make judgments of students and fall into the trap of stereotypes. Some educators may not help the students who need more because then they are not giving the other students the same amount of help, but the thing is....those other students do not need as much as the others do. Educators need to take a step back a realize that equity makes equality possible. How can students be equal if they have varying needs? Equity allows students to reach equality with their peers. For example, if a student is still learning English and they need one on one tutoring before an exam and others who are fluent in English only need a study guide, that is equity. Providing the extra tutoring necessary gets the student who is struggling ready for the exam just like the study guide get the others prepared for the exam. Neither one of them is getting more help than the other, they simply getting the help they need. I believe the key to schools becoming more equitable is simply giving students the assistance and resources they each need based on their individual needs. Once this is accomplished, we can finally reach equality in school because each student has resources specific to them that put them at the same level for opportunities as their classmates.

Until the next post Readers,

                                                             Ms. Holly 

10/17/2021-11:02pm