.8 Abstract

Now, let's review. Remember I say there are three kinds of equity; equity of time, resources, and results. We don't have equity in American school systems on any of these dimensions. I am not saying these are the only dimensions of equity, but they are important dimensions. I make the distinction between equity and equality; equality is not desirable in American education. Equality is impossible and it is not desirable. Equity is possible and is desirable. Then we talked about some of the kinds of things that stand in the way of that equity. We talked about how the barriers and some of the traditional ways of doing things produce the greatest resources where the need for resources is least. Here, one of the basic flaws is the source of funding for the schools, which is basically state revenues and local property taxes. This creates inherent inequities because some districts simply have more property to tax than others. The final thing I want to emphasize is that for education to be equitable there must be a delivery system that provides kids the support they need for premediation and real time remediation. It must be real time so that when kids start getting behind, you fix it, rather than allowing it to pile up. Allowing this to pile up is perhaps ultimately one of the worst inequities in the whole system of education. Remediation and premediation are two prime components of equity in the schools.

Thought Question:
Out of the three kinds of equity, which is the source of the worst inequity? Why?

	No review question
	No application question.