Montana residents who are not outraged by the strife going on within the Montana Board of Education will be forgiven.

The difference in usage of the words “equality” and “fairness” seems like a semantic game.

These concepts are relevant, important, and deeply rooted in our vocabulary of what it means to be American, but both represent concepts that have far-reaching implications when applied to the classroom.

At issue is the language of the state’s teacher code of ethics. The word “fair” appeared there, apparently to the surprise of the Gianforte administration and Republican Superintendent of Public Education, Elsie Ahnzen. They suggested equality instead, which sounds the same and isn’t a bad idea.

Politicians may seem to be using microscope-like little knives to part these tiny hairs, but public education has a much bigger concept.

The problem is that the word fairness has become a watchword for conservative politicians, who fear it may be the code for ‘awakening’.

Instead, this is not a liberal conspiracy. This is an exercise to ensure that all students reach their potential. Providing equality is the minimum acceptable standard for public education, and it was spelled out in the groundbreaking Brown v. Board of Education decision. Equity, on the other hand, is about helping children reach their full potential, regardless of background opportunities.

Simply put, equality is the basement, equity is the ceiling. Sure, Montana (and national) schools need both, but the concepts aren’t the same.

Equality means that students have roughly the same schools, the same quality textbooks, and the same quality teachers. In other words, you cannot build a mansion for some students and keep others locked up in a hovel. that is equality. It represents the lowest acceptable standard.

However, Equity sees every student as an individual, recognizing that students come from different backgrounds and may require different resources to reach their full potential. . And individual student success may be defined by different definitions. Some are required to take college courses through dual enrollment, while others explore technical tracks. Equity understands education to tailor each student according to their needs and talents. Some disadvantaged students may need more help, while students who perform better than their peers may need a different set of challenges and opportunities. I know there is.

I understand the difference between fairness and equality as follows. For example, let’s say you have a group of children aged 0 to her 5 years old. Equality means giving bread to every child. Equality means understanding that not everyone can chew, eat, or digest bread. Instead of giving your infant a piece of toast, give him the right food. And it’s fair. Everyone can eat it, but it’s not necessarily the exact same food.

For a group of Republican leaders who always seem concerned about the looming dangers of communism, few concepts are more rooted in a communist approach than the kind of equality the OPI embraces. In other words, comrades, you get cabbage. I will have cabbage. Also cabbage for you…etc.

This fairness versus equality situation seems like a proxy war for an entirely different battle: the war over public education.

Discussing non-binding ethical codes buried deep within the bureaucratic depths of state institutions would not normally get noticed, but this feels like a broader attack on public education.

I fear that any attempt to replace equity with equality is an attempt to doom public education. In other words, if school boards and educators are encouraged by state public education leaders to treat all students the same, regardless of need or circumstance, diversity will flourish in a growing state. The school will definitely fail because it is expanding.

And when these schools fail to reach out to all students they can, or worse, do the bare minimum, not just the brightest students, but also the struggling ones. You will be left behind. And when student needs are not met, it becomes an excuse to dismantle public education or shift more funding to private educational opportunities, such as at taxpayers’ expense. This creates what is called the “ghettoization” of public education. The only students left in public education are those who cannot afford private school or whose parents are too unable to find an alternative.

How many of us were influenced by a teacher or two who saw something in us and pushed us to success? If so, you’ll understand why it’s worth an equity fight.