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Teacher Uses Band-Aids To Explain Difference Between Equality Vs Equity, 8-Year-Olds Understand It Better Than Adults
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Teacher Uses Band-Aids To Explain Difference Between Equality Vs Equity, 8-Year-Olds Understand It Better Than Adults

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Kids are smart, curious and adaptable, and can learn challenging concepts with remarkable ease with the right teaching methods.

Tumblr user aloneindarknes7 illustrated this by sharing their way of teaching 8-year-olds the difference between two similar but distinct ideas, those of equality and equity. The post originally appeared on the Tumblr ‘Citizenship and Social Justice, which “tracks primarily issues of class, race, gender, education, and activism.”

The teacher, who has been teaching for 3 years, learned the technique from a grade level lead and really enjoys getting important social concepts across to enquiring young minds, helping them to be responsible adults of the future. “There are so many different tricks and tips to instill a sense of social awareness into students of all ages,” aloneindarknes7 told Bored Panda. “You just need to make it relevant to them and on a level that they can understand.”

“The most rewarding part of my job is seeing my students’ excitement. They might be excited while participating in a project. They might be excited when they see a good test result. It’s always rewarding to see their faces light up with joy!”

Now obviously, simply knowing the difference between these two concepts, and learning how to implement them in real life are too completely different things. After reading the teacher’s method, people began a fascinating discussion about inequality, justice and social issues that really provokes some critical thinking. Scroll down below to check it out for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments!

This image was posted recently, explaining the difference between equality and equity

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So a teacher decided to share how they make 8-year-olds understand the concepts

Some people agreed with the post

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Others had a different opinion

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What do you think? Share your opinions below!

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mittenkg avatar
Alib
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nice post, but I find this image more explanatory and simplified. My students love it! download-5...0022d7.jpg download-5b50ca10022d7.jpg

kevinbeard avatar
Kevin Beard
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I get it. Both equality and equity mean I don't have to pay to watch the baseball game.

Load More Replies...
booyahthebabydinosaur avatar
Nebula
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s great children are understanding this at a young age! They’ll be more understanding when they’re older and hopefully influence thei generation

monicacgraham avatar
staygoldponyboy
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In my opinion... the point of this lesson isn't really teaching equity and equality, they are learning about individuality. In the lesson, the teacher impresses on the kids that differences matter. This isn't a one-size-fits classroom; this isn't a one-size-fits world.

eddiediaz avatar
Eddie Diaz
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Quite possible the dumbest thing I've read in a while. Putting the same size band-aid where it hurts would be equality. Equity would be giving bigger band-aids to bigger cuts.

crabcrab avatar
Hans
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For teaching purposes this is brilliant. To explain to people why we have customs, why some people earn billions while others barely make a living, and why globalization has pros and cons, it does not suffice, though. Thus, this tought example should not be made more than it actually is.

phil84vaive avatar
Phil Vaive
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean, it was an example for a group of 8 year olds. And really, the example could be expanded upon - Regarding income inequality, if kid number two says he needs a bandaid on his knee, put a second bandaid on kid number 1. Then for kid number three, put a 3rd bandaid on kid number 1. Eventually number 1 has all the bandaids, and the teacher could say "Don't worry, eventually the bandaids will get to the rest of you! It's called trickle down economics!"

Load More Replies...
williamclark avatar
William Clark
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Too bad it has nothing to do with the law and the meaning of “equality”, which simply means equal treatment under the law. What you’re talking about here is handicapping others and attempting to “make everyone the same”. That’s illogical and impossible on all practical levels. There will always be people with more intelligence, money, privilege, looks, athletic abilities, etc etc. it’s absurd thinking.

williamclark avatar
William Clark
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For your enlightenment... https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinkruse/2016/03/07/80-20-rule/#1918deb03814

Load More Replies...
troux avatar
Troux
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't think this is a lesson about equity and equality as much as it's a lesson about understanding and listening to people. This can apply to a leader as much as to a basic citizen, employee or friend: You can't just figure it all out in your head then go out carpet-bombing with your genius solution; you need to hear the problems as personally and individually as possible to really develop effective solutions. This is more important than ever in a diverse world, taking note of the many politicians who have their minds made up ahead of time and refuse to talk to anyone who disagrees. I will refer you to the following quote from a certain Twitter legend: "Anyone who thinks they know what's best for 300 million people is a titanic a*****e. So we're just voting for king of the a******s."

nycat1984 avatar
Lawrence Catalioto
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is not an example of equality, and the fact that a teacher doesn’t know the difference deeply worries me.

janealexander37 avatar
Jane Alexander
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reverend Jesse Jackson was asked: "Aren't Freedom and Equality the same thing?" He said; "No. Freedom is the way the grass grows. Equality is when somebody comes along and cuts it down to the lowest common denominator"

facetrees avatar
TreesInMyFace
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But who pays for the bandaids? Some poor guy out there who bought himself some bandaids only to be ripped of them so other people can have them. why should he work to buy bandaids at all? Just let the govt take other people's bandaids and give them to him. Sounds a lot like another name for communism to me.

edwardreedbristol avatar
Darryl Kerrigan
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's like the exercise with the waste paper bin and the ball of paper to show the class system/privelege. Wish we had more teachers like this one!

cassfalcon avatar
Falcon
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sensenotsocommon nailed it. 'It's when you start trying to bring people down to the same level that problems start occurring'. Equality of opportunity is what's important, not equality of outcome.

mdclgyselinck avatar
Michèle Gyselinck
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I. find the notion of equality of opportunity difficult to implement. Especially in the face of objections that some people are "getting opportunities they don't deserve." It's not a question of merit but of need. People with disabilities need more help than those who are temporarily able-bodied (TAB for short), but some people find it hard to understand that giving extra help to those who need it does NOT take ANYTHING from those who don't. If you don't need help to overcome obstacles in your life, why do you complain because some do and get it.?

sheryl_a_osullivan avatar
Sheryl O'Sullivan
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a chaplain I have done a similar thing in a class that was struggling with ‘fair versus equal’. I made cards that had different ‘illnesses or injuries’ on them. Each student had one. I dressed the teacher in a white doctors coat. The children had to say to the ‘doctor’ “Doctor, Doctor I have a (splinter, broken leg, tummy ache). To this the ‘doctor’ replied, “Oh you poor thing. Here, have a bandaid.” There is a also a stop motion video on YouTube based on the baseball game image. We watched that and talked about it and talked about how fair is not always equal.

elextech avatar
Vincent Jay
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm so confused. I thought equity had something to do with my mortgage.

ksaleib83 avatar
Kerolos Saleib
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is perfect. I work each day to try and teach this and live by it.

r3dd3v1ll avatar
r3dd3v1lL
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ins't equity an economics term? How do people confuse a social construct like "equality" with a term from economics and accounting like "equity"?

newcwarr06 avatar
Cherry Warr
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

what if you don't want the damn bandaid to start with? This is the problem I have with Socialists, they assume everyone thinks and feels just like they do and they get confused when they run into someone that doesn't WANT their 'help'. Who wants to be 'equal' to everyone else? let me be me, let me DO me...if I fail, it's MY failure, not yours, and if I win, it's MY win, not yours!

alchristensen avatar
Al Christensen
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Then, somewhere down the road of life, they encounter "equity" used an entirely different way (home equity), and they're confused for a while.

dzintrakalnina avatar
Dzintra Kalnina
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why do you (or anyone) think you know these concepts, or that they should be known and "are the way forward"? Maybe kids, knowing no such sicial bullocks, are able to teach YOU more clear and accurate ways of relating to others. Soul to soul, not concept to concept.

glendabagrowski avatar
Chicago Kitty
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Admittedly this is an example geared to 8 year olds, but for me the logic seems flawed. Essentially everyone who needed a band-aid was given one. At some point (and if they weren't 8 year olds) each could have taken his/her band-aid and done something with it that benefited him/her. I have no problem with providing resources for people to improve their situation, but those resources should require a personal investment. The individual must add something of themselves to benefit from the resource, be it effort, time, labor etc. In this way, people not only tangibly improve their lot but do so with the dignity of work which comes with having earned or accomplished something. We fail so miserably in lifting people out of poverty because we continually had out results (albeit diminished ones) rather than opportunities. Ex: We see poor people need shoes so we hand out hideous crappy shoes that although functional make the person feel diminished or worse entitled to future free shoes.

glendabagrowski avatar
Chicago Kitty
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is far better to say to someone "I see you need a pair of shoes, if you will sweep this floor etc. I will give you a voucher to a store where you can select a pair of shoes that you have earned." If you'd like nicer shoes, then you can also wash the floors, want still nicer shoes? Then you can wax the floors. There is no shame in honest work no matter how menial and if we provide opportunity to earn we build people up rather than telling people they are victims who aren't capable of making a life for themselves.

Load More Replies...
cwa92464 avatar
cwa92464
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That may work a little better than the usual: "Shut your damn mouth!" And that was the 8-year-old...

david_basque_db avatar
David Basque
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

I get the concept you're explain, and it makes sense for your day to day life but at the society level this is not really achievable. Who is the judge of who is more oppressed and who isn't? I don't think you can just assume "group A" is oppressed based on a race or a gender. This is basically discriminatory and patronizing to this group, it's literally saying that this group is inferior and needs special treatments. Life is sadly unfair, and some people have better upbringing than other, but trying to cater to every single "victim" is an endless task to accomplish. Instead of teaching people to demand from the world in order to overcome their weakness, we ought to teach them how to defeat their weakness and overcome them. Teaching people how to be victims is so easy, but I don't think, in the end, that teaching people to be dependent on the government to be successful is helping anyone.

milosz avatar
BlahBlah
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Something leftists definitely need to embrace.

johanna_zamora avatar
Grumble O'Pug
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Funny, it's actually the goose-steppers need to comprehend. A lot miss the mark. Like you, for example.

Load More Replies...
mittenkg avatar
Alib
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nice post, but I find this image more explanatory and simplified. My students love it! download-5...0022d7.jpg download-5b50ca10022d7.jpg

kevinbeard avatar
Kevin Beard
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I get it. Both equality and equity mean I don't have to pay to watch the baseball game.

Load More Replies...
booyahthebabydinosaur avatar
Nebula
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s great children are understanding this at a young age! They’ll be more understanding when they’re older and hopefully influence thei generation

monicacgraham avatar
staygoldponyboy
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In my opinion... the point of this lesson isn't really teaching equity and equality, they are learning about individuality. In the lesson, the teacher impresses on the kids that differences matter. This isn't a one-size-fits classroom; this isn't a one-size-fits world.

eddiediaz avatar
Eddie Diaz
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Quite possible the dumbest thing I've read in a while. Putting the same size band-aid where it hurts would be equality. Equity would be giving bigger band-aids to bigger cuts.

crabcrab avatar
Hans
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For teaching purposes this is brilliant. To explain to people why we have customs, why some people earn billions while others barely make a living, and why globalization has pros and cons, it does not suffice, though. Thus, this tought example should not be made more than it actually is.

phil84vaive avatar
Phil Vaive
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean, it was an example for a group of 8 year olds. And really, the example could be expanded upon - Regarding income inequality, if kid number two says he needs a bandaid on his knee, put a second bandaid on kid number 1. Then for kid number three, put a 3rd bandaid on kid number 1. Eventually number 1 has all the bandaids, and the teacher could say "Don't worry, eventually the bandaids will get to the rest of you! It's called trickle down economics!"

Load More Replies...
williamclark avatar
William Clark
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Too bad it has nothing to do with the law and the meaning of “equality”, which simply means equal treatment under the law. What you’re talking about here is handicapping others and attempting to “make everyone the same”. That’s illogical and impossible on all practical levels. There will always be people with more intelligence, money, privilege, looks, athletic abilities, etc etc. it’s absurd thinking.

williamclark avatar
William Clark
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For your enlightenment... https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinkruse/2016/03/07/80-20-rule/#1918deb03814

Load More Replies...
troux avatar
Troux
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't think this is a lesson about equity and equality as much as it's a lesson about understanding and listening to people. This can apply to a leader as much as to a basic citizen, employee or friend: You can't just figure it all out in your head then go out carpet-bombing with your genius solution; you need to hear the problems as personally and individually as possible to really develop effective solutions. This is more important than ever in a diverse world, taking note of the many politicians who have their minds made up ahead of time and refuse to talk to anyone who disagrees. I will refer you to the following quote from a certain Twitter legend: "Anyone who thinks they know what's best for 300 million people is a titanic a*****e. So we're just voting for king of the a******s."

nycat1984 avatar
Lawrence Catalioto
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is not an example of equality, and the fact that a teacher doesn’t know the difference deeply worries me.

janealexander37 avatar
Jane Alexander
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reverend Jesse Jackson was asked: "Aren't Freedom and Equality the same thing?" He said; "No. Freedom is the way the grass grows. Equality is when somebody comes along and cuts it down to the lowest common denominator"

facetrees avatar
TreesInMyFace
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But who pays for the bandaids? Some poor guy out there who bought himself some bandaids only to be ripped of them so other people can have them. why should he work to buy bandaids at all? Just let the govt take other people's bandaids and give them to him. Sounds a lot like another name for communism to me.

edwardreedbristol avatar
Darryl Kerrigan
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's like the exercise with the waste paper bin and the ball of paper to show the class system/privelege. Wish we had more teachers like this one!

cassfalcon avatar
Falcon
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sensenotsocommon nailed it. 'It's when you start trying to bring people down to the same level that problems start occurring'. Equality of opportunity is what's important, not equality of outcome.

mdclgyselinck avatar
Michèle Gyselinck
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I. find the notion of equality of opportunity difficult to implement. Especially in the face of objections that some people are "getting opportunities they don't deserve." It's not a question of merit but of need. People with disabilities need more help than those who are temporarily able-bodied (TAB for short), but some people find it hard to understand that giving extra help to those who need it does NOT take ANYTHING from those who don't. If you don't need help to overcome obstacles in your life, why do you complain because some do and get it.?

sheryl_a_osullivan avatar
Sheryl O'Sullivan
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a chaplain I have done a similar thing in a class that was struggling with ‘fair versus equal’. I made cards that had different ‘illnesses or injuries’ on them. Each student had one. I dressed the teacher in a white doctors coat. The children had to say to the ‘doctor’ “Doctor, Doctor I have a (splinter, broken leg, tummy ache). To this the ‘doctor’ replied, “Oh you poor thing. Here, have a bandaid.” There is a also a stop motion video on YouTube based on the baseball game image. We watched that and talked about it and talked about how fair is not always equal.

elextech avatar
Vincent Jay
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm so confused. I thought equity had something to do with my mortgage.

ksaleib83 avatar
Kerolos Saleib
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is perfect. I work each day to try and teach this and live by it.

r3dd3v1ll avatar
r3dd3v1lL
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ins't equity an economics term? How do people confuse a social construct like "equality" with a term from economics and accounting like "equity"?

newcwarr06 avatar
Cherry Warr
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

what if you don't want the damn bandaid to start with? This is the problem I have with Socialists, they assume everyone thinks and feels just like they do and they get confused when they run into someone that doesn't WANT their 'help'. Who wants to be 'equal' to everyone else? let me be me, let me DO me...if I fail, it's MY failure, not yours, and if I win, it's MY win, not yours!

alchristensen avatar
Al Christensen
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Then, somewhere down the road of life, they encounter "equity" used an entirely different way (home equity), and they're confused for a while.

dzintrakalnina avatar
Dzintra Kalnina
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why do you (or anyone) think you know these concepts, or that they should be known and "are the way forward"? Maybe kids, knowing no such sicial bullocks, are able to teach YOU more clear and accurate ways of relating to others. Soul to soul, not concept to concept.

glendabagrowski avatar
Chicago Kitty
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Admittedly this is an example geared to 8 year olds, but for me the logic seems flawed. Essentially everyone who needed a band-aid was given one. At some point (and if they weren't 8 year olds) each could have taken his/her band-aid and done something with it that benefited him/her. I have no problem with providing resources for people to improve their situation, but those resources should require a personal investment. The individual must add something of themselves to benefit from the resource, be it effort, time, labor etc. In this way, people not only tangibly improve their lot but do so with the dignity of work which comes with having earned or accomplished something. We fail so miserably in lifting people out of poverty because we continually had out results (albeit diminished ones) rather than opportunities. Ex: We see poor people need shoes so we hand out hideous crappy shoes that although functional make the person feel diminished or worse entitled to future free shoes.

glendabagrowski avatar
Chicago Kitty
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is far better to say to someone "I see you need a pair of shoes, if you will sweep this floor etc. I will give you a voucher to a store where you can select a pair of shoes that you have earned." If you'd like nicer shoes, then you can also wash the floors, want still nicer shoes? Then you can wax the floors. There is no shame in honest work no matter how menial and if we provide opportunity to earn we build people up rather than telling people they are victims who aren't capable of making a life for themselves.

Load More Replies...
cwa92464 avatar
cwa92464
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That may work a little better than the usual: "Shut your damn mouth!" And that was the 8-year-old...

david_basque_db avatar
David Basque
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

I get the concept you're explain, and it makes sense for your day to day life but at the society level this is not really achievable. Who is the judge of who is more oppressed and who isn't? I don't think you can just assume "group A" is oppressed based on a race or a gender. This is basically discriminatory and patronizing to this group, it's literally saying that this group is inferior and needs special treatments. Life is sadly unfair, and some people have better upbringing than other, but trying to cater to every single "victim" is an endless task to accomplish. Instead of teaching people to demand from the world in order to overcome their weakness, we ought to teach them how to defeat their weakness and overcome them. Teaching people how to be victims is so easy, but I don't think, in the end, that teaching people to be dependent on the government to be successful is helping anyone.

milosz avatar
BlahBlah
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Something leftists definitely need to embrace.

johanna_zamora avatar
Grumble O'Pug
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Funny, it's actually the goose-steppers need to comprehend. A lot miss the mark. Like you, for example.

Load More Replies...
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