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EQUITY TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

Running head: Equity vs. Equality: Social Justice in the Classroom

Jenelle Magbutay

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Submitted in Partial Completion of the Requirements for EDU 280-1004

Instructor: Rosnidar Arshad

Date: 9/12/17
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Abstract

Multicultural education is a sensitive subject, especially when schools are such an important in-

stitution for developing children. Teachers play an important role in students lives along with

their parents, as we help shape their beliefs and ideas. Not only on an individual level, but a so-

cial level as well. In order to bring the children together, they must relate with each other which

means fully understanding each other. Equity and equality both play a role in this, but equity is

the more favorable of the two. This paper will explore the differences between the two and how

they will affect my curriculum and how I establish the environment in the classroom.

In order to begin to fix social issues in the classroom, we must implement social justice and fight

for both equality and equity. This paper will explain how to do so by enacting 4 points in order to

create awareness, which is the first step in eradicating the problem. With my experiences as a mi-

nority actress, I am well exposed to social justice and equity in every day life, and I firmly be-

lieve that equity should be a foundation in every classroom in order to reach true equality and

shape future generations into people who are open-minded and accepting of others.

Introduction
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School can be described as a place where children are taught, but it most importantly can

also be described as a place where children develop their views and make self discoveries on their

own beliefs, identities, and how they interact with one another. With the nation being so diverse,

students and teachers alike must actively make their curriculum all-inclusive in order for students

to relate with one another, and as a result, work better together in achieving classroom goals.

Teachers must be able to teach students from all walks of life, and must encourage their students

to not only relate to the teacher themselves in order to trust them to educate them, but also to put

trust and understanding in each other in order to create a safe space for learning without judgement

from others. Equality and equity are two important factors that should make up a demographically

diverse classroom, but there is a discernible difference between the two. Equality refers to treating

everyone the same, while equity means giving everyone the means to succeed in their goals. Alt-

hough both terms differ in definition, equity should be more present in classrooms.

As a teacher, I should be using these two aspects in my every day curriculum in order to

provide a safe space for all students to thrive as independent individuals. I plan on using equality

to create an equal playing field for my students to unapologetically learn and grow during the time

they spend in my classroom. Despite this, equity has a more important role, and I will use my role

as an educator to provide all my students the tools to be successful in achieving both short term

and long term goals in my classroom.

Equity vs. Equality

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As demonstrated in the chart, the concepts of equality and equity are very different. One

puts individuals on the same playing field, while the other makes it so that everybody starts on

the same level. Concerning fairness, equity is definitely the most effective, especially in an envi-

ronment where multiple students from all walks of life are required to achieve both short-term

and long-term goals together. This is especially relevant in schools with poor communities, as

they tend to be more diverse and face hardships with connecting to one another. In the text, it

states that poor and minority student cultures were merely different from the prevailing beliefs

and practice of school culture, not deficient (Banks, 2016). In other words, culturally individu-

als who attended these schools had very specific cultural demands, and their institution was not

providing for them. Forcing them to assimilate to the school culture strips them of their own

identity, and that should never be the goal. The real goal should be to fight for each students

own individuality while giving them the means to succeed at the same rate as other students.

This would have to unravel decades of inequality, most notably seen in the separate but

equal doctrine, which was a legal doctrine that stated racial segregation was not prohibited by
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the 14th amendment. One person can make a difference, and as teachers we must influence chil-

dren in our classrooms for the future of this country. Equity is already seen in schools with stu-

dents who have disabilities, but it does not meet the demands of children who are faced with

prejudice because of their race, gender, and sexual orientation. This can take a toll mentally on

students, and mental health is such an important factor in a students success rate in their studies.

In order for this to improve, schools must reach out and implement a new focus on making the

curriculum all-inclusive for all students. A successful classroom is said to depend on enforcing

norms in the class about discussion and respect (Sawchuck, 2017). In order to develop a truly

thriving multicultural classroom, the teacher must establish an environment where children feel

safe expressing their opinions and sharing their personal opinions without being judged by their

peers.

Definition of Social Justice

The meaning of social justice can mean a myriad of things to different people based on

what they are fighting for. Personally, I think that social justice is fighting for the right of being

treated equally and ethically. Tireless efforts of social justice made gay marriage legal in the

United States, but social justice will also be needed to let transgender people serve in the military

again and bring back the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Schools play an im-

portant roll in sparking social justice, as it is a main social hub for students; often they make

friends and influence each other in this field, and if schools would set up a system sensitive to

this level, they can help remove the problem from its root. The book states that in order to fix

this problem we must do four things. One, we need to increase the awareness of how racial in-

teractions affect everyone and engage in an open dialogue. Second, we need to be critical of
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color-blindness. Third, educators need to be encouraged to become more culturally and ra-

cially aware of the issues. Lastly, we need to encourage Whites to hold other Whites accounta-

ble (Banks, 2016). With all four of these points intact in the classroom, we can shape future

generations and change what is happening today.

Especially today in times where DACA is being removed and racism is rampant across

the nation, it is especially important that children are given a space to develop where they are

taught about the wrongness of thinking such a way and guidance to live with an open and accept-

ing mind. Referencing back to point number 4, we should hold everyone accountable and not be

silent about correcting inappropriate social interactions. We should never stay silent on the issue,

or else it is enabling the individual to keep doing wrong.

Experiences That Shaped My Understanding

Being an Asian American woman, I have had my fair share of experiences with social

justice and equity. I am very passionate about erasing the white-washing of Hollywood roles, and

I have definitely fought for social justice in that area. A lot of my friends are also LGBTQ and I

want them to have the same rights that I do, so I have supported their cause as well. Equity

should definitely be applied in casting. As an actress, I do not feel like I have a fair shot at audi-

tioning for a role because I am Asian. The audition process also notably isnt the most fun pro-

cess in the world, so it should definitely input a lot more of the equity concept.

During my time as a student, especially in high school and now in college, my view on

social justice and equity has definitely been put into perspective. I have always not been a fan of

the female dress code, especially the one intact at my alma mater Palo Verde High School, which

was recently in the news for being used for the wrong reasons. The dress code for girls is always

focused on making the boys comfortable, which is ridiculous and unfair. Being comfortable in an
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environment where it gets uncomfortably hot, should not be an issue especially since there are

bigger issues at hand.

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References

Convertino, C., Levison, B. A., & Gonzlez, N. (2016). Culture, Teaching, and Learning. In Multicultural

Education (9th ed., Vol. 1, pp. 25-38). Danvers, MA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Banks, J. A. & Banks, C (2016). Multicultural Education: Characteristics and Goals. In Multicultural Ed-

ucation (9th ed., Vol. 1, pp. 3-21). Danvers, MA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Banks, J. A. & Banks, C. (2016). Multicultural Education: Characteristics and Goals. In Multicultural Ed-

ucation (9th ed., Vol. 1, pp. 3-21). Danvers, MA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Sawchuk, S. (2017, October 05). How Teachers Are Addressing the 'Take the Knee' Controversy

in Class. Retrieved October 07, 2017, from http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curricu-

lum/2017/09/teachers_address_bend_the_knee_in_class.html