Fair isn't always equal.

     After I read Dr. Tuck's blog about the Abbott School Debate I couldn't help but think of a quote that my Teaching in the Inclusive Classroom professor said the first day "Fair isn't always equal." The reason that I bring this quote up is because the Abbott School ruling stated that "the state of NJ would provide the $5,000 difference per student to the Abbott School." (Dr. Tuck's Blog, 2011.) This quote means that it might be fair for one side, but at the same time, it might be viewed as unfair to the other side.
      With the Abbott School debate, Gov. Christie has chosen not to follow through with the decision to give the $5,000 per student to make the schools districts' costs per student equal. Gov. Christie says, "school reform goes beyond dollars and cents." (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/11/chris-christie-schools_n_875262.html?ref=fb&src=sp)  I understand that he was speaking in relation to privatizing lower performing schools, however, he is correct in saying that the schools need more reforms than money. The wealthier constituents are going to be upset with the way their money is being spent, and then the poorer constituents are going to be happy that money is being given to provide their children with the same things that the wealthier students are getting.  This is tough for me to take sides on.  I do believe that district's should have money for their improvements. The problem is, I can see why the other districts' constituents are getting upset too.   On one hand we have to ask how anyone can deny all children the same education?  Who has the right to say which students get money spent on them and which ones do not?  If my children were going to the Abbott School, then of course I would want them to have this money spent on them, but only if it was being spent on legitimate reforms and would actually benefit my children.  If I lived outside that area, then I honestly do not know how I would feel.  I do know that my educator side, would not be able to deny children that money.
      When you think of fairness, this situation with Abbott Schools may never have a resolution where people view it as fair to all sides. If we think about this inside a classroom, then this is the same idea that occurs in the inclusive classrooms. We give one student a different amount of testing time, or give another student less questions to answer on a homework, this might seem unfair, but it isn't.  It's  fair that each are taking the assessments that are necessary for their ability, but it might not be equal in the amount of work.
      Education is a tough entity to work with.  The bottom line is that we should be applauding the districts who hire teachers who actually are there for the children, and take time to get to know what works for their students.  Sometimes things aren't going to be fair to all, but they can still be equal.  We need more teachers like Carter who took the time to see what worked with which students.  He used music with one group, but maybe he has to change that up with each group of students who come through his door.  As Gladwell said in the TED talks, "we need to embrace diversity."  We need to embrace the things that make our students who they are, and those other things that will make them who they will be.
      I would like to say that if Gov. Christie says yes to paying the difference to the Abbott School, then what is going to stop him from giving the same amount of money to all of the school districts in the state? He will have a tough time justifying saying yes, or doing what the court wants to only one school.  How can he turn his back on all of the districts in his state? Imagine what kind of debates are going to come out of this when other poor district's hear that there was a court ruling like this. I could only imagine what I would feel if I lived in one of those districts.  I would want to know what the Abbott School did to get this equal amount of money and I would want to go to court for my own children. I don't like how Christie wants the privatization of the schools, however, when you look at Sameness as Fairness, I don't think that I would want to have the job that he does, and I wouldn't want to have to come up with the money in order to make the schools all have the same.