EQUITY IN EDUCATION 1
Equity in Education
School of Education, Liberty University
EQUITY IN EDUCATION 2
Equity in Education
Virginia’s 25th Superintendent of Public Instruction James Lane stated in 2019 at The
Virginia is for All Learners Education Equity Summer Institute:
Embracing equity means understanding that every student comes to school with their own
set of unique needs and abilities, and that it is our responsibility as educators to provide
whatever instructional and support services each student needs to succeed and achieve
their fullest potential. (Wallace, 2019, para. 2)
The schools in the Richmond Public Schools District have been working hard to bring equity
into their schools and classrooms. I am proud to be working for such a great district and being
able to experience this topic firsthand. Throughout this essay, I will shed light to Equity in
Education from three different perspectives along with my biblical stand for Equity.
Article 1
Individuals may wonder why equity is important to the school system. Equity can become a
sensitive topic to discuss with the world we are living in today. To understand equity and
inequity one must be willing to put themselves in the shoes of others who face inequity to see it
differently. “Understanding the causes and consequences of inequity is critical for stimulating
social change and a more compassionate world” (Dunin, 2019, para. 1). The article Equity in
Education Part II: Confronting Biases as a First Step written by Didi Dunin spoke on
challenging preconceptions as a first step to increase equity. Educators must take action to look
at their implicit biases or stereotypical beliefs and decide how to fight those to bring equity into
their classrooms. A study was conducted on teachers of multiple races that showed African
American students are more likely to get punished compared to the white students. Also, that
educators put stereotypes to names before seeing students. For example, a teacher having a bad
EQUITY IN EDUCATION 3
experience with a student named Brandon, now every time she sees the name, she will associate
those same previous actions for the new student. As educators we must put a stop to that. We are
not helping the case of inequity by prejudging our kids before they step through our doors.
Students are already at war with themselves and where they come from the last thing, they want
is another adult judging them. This author also spoke on what consequences can occur if the bias
is not handled. Our students will start to believe that inequity is acceptable and that they do not
have a voice. We should want to build our students up, not tear them down with society. The first
step to ending inequity in education is educating yourself about the community you work and
live in.
Article 2
In the article Creating Equity by Closing the Learner Experience, the authors Scribner,
Cabrera, and Buerk discuss the importance of every learner experiencing life readiness skills in
the urban classroom setting. Historically it has been stated that the gaps for children of poverty
entering school is clear and compelling. Why are children of poverty sometime labeled with the
term “school-to-prison pipeline?” Instead, we should be ensuring that every learner has equal
experiences in the classroom. Meaning, there should be opportunities for enrichment services or
gifted education or at the least offered to all. The authors argue that survival skills as well as
high-order skills is crucial to preparing students to be leaders in the 21st century. As one
Kindergarten learner articulated it, “It kind of helps you get prepared for when you get older”
(Scribner, Cabrera, & Buerk, 2019, p. 2). Furthermore, if an attempt is to be made to close the
equity gap then there must be opportunities to learn the different skill sets. In today’s generation
this can be demonstrated by inequity, equality, and equity in the classroom. As educators,
teaching in diverse populations we will experience all three among learners.
EQUITY IN EDUCATION 4
Article 3
Teach for America (TFA) is a nonprofit organization that recruits teachers to work in a low-
income community for at least two years. TFA aims to fight education inequity. The article 6
Myths About Educational Inequity breaks down the common misconceptions about education
inequity. (1) Educational Resources Are Equally Distributed Across Schools: educational
resources are not being equitably distributed among students and communities. School resources
are important to students because they ensure each student receives a strong academic
foundation. (2) Low-Income Children and Children of Color Are Receiving Enough Educational
sources to Succeed Academically: The schools in low income communities receive unequal
funding and resources, which inhibits educational resources for the students. This can also be
considered an opportunity gap. (3) Educational Inequity is an Issue That Doesn’t Have
Widespread Impact: If educational gaps are not addressed, we are failing our students. Which
impacts the economy and educational outcomes. (4) All Students Should Receive the Same
Educational Resources: When will this happen? This is when equity vs equality comes into play.
We have to remember that these two words do not mean the same thing for our students. “Equal
treatment is not fair treatment when students from historically marginalized communities face
systemic barriers that do not disappear at the classroom door” (Team, 2019, para. 13). (5)
Solving Educational Inequity Will by Itself Fix Other Societal Disparities: Our low-income
families face many disparities such as food insecurity, fewer jobs, and economic inequality. On
top of all those they experience educational inequity. Only seeking to fix educational inequity
will not help our students to receive all the opportunities they need to succeed. (6) We’ll Never
EQUITY IN EDUCATION 5
Achieve True Educational Equity: Educators have to believe that each child has potential to
succeed in life.
Biblical Worldview
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act
justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8, New International
Version). This scripture speaks about Christians respecting God our Lord and Savior, walking in
obedience and serving him humbly. We read this and understand what is good and what God is
requiring of us. To act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God represents Equity.
Conclusion
What is more important Equity or Equality? In schools it is important to have both but not to
confuse the two with each other. Equity focuses on fairness making sure each student receives
what they need. Equality is giving everyone the same thing. Educators need to understand that
every child comes with a different story therefore cannot always receive the same as others.
Equity and excellence will educate and empower our students.
EQUITY IN EDUCATION 6
References
Dunin , D. (2019, August 13). Equity in Education Part II: Confronting Biases as a First
Step. http://www.edimprovement.org/2019/08/equity-in-education-confronting-biases-
as-a-
first-step/
Scribner , K., Cabrera, J., & Buerk, S. (2019). Creating Equity by Closing the Learner
Experience Gap. https://engage2learn.org/resources/creating-equity-by-closing-the-
learner-experience-gap/
Team, T. T. F. A. E. (2019, July 26). 6 Myths About Educational Inequity.
https:// www.teachforamerica.org/stories/educational-inequity-facts .
Wallace, J. H. (2019, July 08). Northam to address education leaders on equity in the classroom.
Retrieved September 24, 2020, from https://richmond.com/news/local/northam-to-
address-education-leaders-on-equity-in-the-classroom/article_62f53765-9083-5576-
9695-66cb53668a2a.html
