Equality and Equity in the Classroom

I believe that equality and equity are both extremely important in the classroom. I will first start off with my definitions of the two terms. I see equality as giving everybody the same treatment no matter what and treat them as equals. Equity is giving everybody what they need, but what they need may not be equal to what somebody else needs. Equality comes into play with classroom rules, who you call on in class, and the amount of attention you give to a student. You must give every student the same respect, time, and effort as every other student, or at least make that time available to them if they would like it. If you give extra help for one student, all students should be offered it. However, if you have students in your class with different disabilities or handicapping conditions, it is not fair to them to treat them "equally" to their peers. Those students may need differentiated instruction or extra technology, or modified seating arrangements. Teachers cannot be in a class and expect to treat the gifted students, the typically achieving students, and the poor achieving students the same way and use the same assignments and the same teaching strategies. We need to learn who is in our class and adapt to each individual's needs. If we have one student who needs auditory learning, one who needs kinesthetic, and one who needs visual, then we must incorporate all three techniques into our teaching. Our job as teachers is to cater to our students needs and educate them in the best and most effective way possible. All students have the right to learn and have the right to be taught in the way that best suits their needs. We have to make sure not to treat all aspects of our teaching with equality, otherwise by doing so we will leave students out. (AM)