I was just sent this article (see below) and if it's accurate, wow. You see, while I think certain groups have been and are disadvantaged, I also think that education should be individualized and needs-specific which means that all students who require support in "x" are equally deserving, and that some are not more equal than others.
Clearly two concerns are competing here, one educational and one more social. The educational concern is that individual students are behind in x, or lacking x, or need support in x. The social concern is that certain groups are seen as being disadvantaged and so need additional resources to compensate for this.
The underlying problem is that of limited funding and thus the need for choice in resource allocation.
Following the educational approach, the general formula is that need is ranked, for example by test scores or by age or by time on the respective list and then those at the top of the list are served, moving down until funds are exhausted. An alternative is that names are placed in some kind of hat and then drawn by lot until the limit is reached.
Apart from any issues with the ranking methodology, this is a generally fair system. It is also generally empirical, or data-based and data-driven. What would be better of course is having such a resourcing level that selection is not required but that is another can of worms.
Following the social approach, aka as "social justice" or "social equity", group are identified on the basis of race, gender, socio-economic status, even religion and the groups are somehow ranked in terms of which is more greatly disadvantaged. Resources are then allocated to these particular groups.
Apart from any issues with the ranking methodology, this is also problematic. For example, how does race-based grouping allow for mixed race. Is it the "one drop of blood" position? And if a group is identified, what about members of that group who are also lawyers, doctors and owners of plumbing companies? Should they also be prioritised despite being filthy rich? And someone who has just joined the school and as a member of this group is now ranked above someone who has been waiting for support for several years?
I agree that society has a role or responsibility to help its members, and to help combat the disadvantages which some groups have compared to others. However I also believe that schools have a role and responsibility to help individual students. If I were to rank students on for example reading, I can guarantee that amongst the reasons some students will rank lowly is because of their membership of one of these groups. However, the needs will be educational and so can be addressed educationally. The scenario described in this article, if true, is wrong and educationally unsupportable.
**Please leave comments and queries below**
Further Reading
Wisconsin law firm accuses Green Bay School District of violating civil rights of a white student
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