How you can be inclusive and ethical?

'Equality in education is not about treating everyone the same; it is about giving everyone an equal opportunity to access the learning experience'

http://www.anqdevelopment1-linux.co.uk/04-TheoryTasks/Theory3.htm

Whilst doing a bit of research I came across this quote that got me thinking. While I agree that all students should be given the opportunity to learn, and their learning being delivered and assessed in a way that suits them, where do you draw the line between helping them do the best they can and giving them extra help that gives them a greater advantage over others?

Is it ethical to assess different students in different ways where it may give one student an advantage over the other? This quote suggests that we shouldnt treat everyone the same but based on their individual needs, but then how do you deal with some students noticing this and accusing you of not being consistent and offering 'special treatment', and how do you ensure everybody is taught and assessed fairly?

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Permalink Reply by Andrea Thompson on January 6, 2013 at 2:53pm

In my experience its about giving people an even playing field, getting everyone to the start of the race, so to speak, instead of some starting way back. This could come in the form of financial help, students from low income families can apply for help, not so they have more than others, but so they can learn, paying for bus fares etc. Maybe it's a lift in the building for a wheelchair user, a tutor for a dyslexic student, or a student being able to have a tutorial with their teacher after class; assisting students so they can have the same opportunities as others, which otherwise they would not get to have. I think it's about creating opportunities for students to realise their potential, the more opportunities we create for more people, the more productive we can become as a society. Reaching one's potential should not just be for the ones which fit into the system created, but for everyone.

I think students feeling others are having special treatment, may need to understand why someone gets what they do, not necessarily making it personal to a specific student, but educating students in why some get help, what is it all about. I'll explain it from my personal experience, as an example friends would find out that as I'm dyslexic I get a computer to help with my studies, to some this would seem unfair to students who don't get one, but I must fit into the system as it is and write essays and read the text books to show I understand the subject within that certain time frame like everyone else. To do this I need assistance as my brain doesn't work in a way that doing that comes naturally to me, it can be incredibly hard to write my knowledge of a subject in the way it needs to be done, so I get offered tools to aid me in this, otherwise I may not be able to demonstrate my learning. If we had a system where students could be assessed in the way that suits them best, so not all students for the same assessment would write an essay, some could film a discussion they've done, draw a cartoon, perform it, maybe that could naturally even things out, but I would think they'd be issues raised with that idea. So my point is, educate people, maybe let them walk a day or as close to, in someone else's shoes, so they can see its not about helping people finish the race early, just giving them an opportunity to finish.