Dare To Be Fair

Retrieved from: http://i.cbc.ca/1.2793792.1443627748!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/classroom.jpg

When looking back at my first day of school, it is safe to say that the things I have learned were not the most challenging concepts. That being said, that does not mean sharing with others and covering my mouth when I cough are not important life lessons, as they will follow me for the rest of my life. Along with the previously mentioned skills, fairness is another lesson that we are taught from the moment we step foot in a classroom setting. Whether we are playing football at recess or checking out a book in the library, we are expected to treat everyone equally and with respect. Students are lucky that their teachers are the ones conveying this information to them due to the fact that they are practically experts in this field. It may not be obvious, but educators are also expected to be fair. 

When it comes to assessment, educators need to focus on validity, reliability and most importantly, fairness. According to Interweaving Curriculum And Classroom Assessment, “Fairness means that all students have an equal opportunity to succeed regardless of gender, prior knowledge, teacher bias, or any other factor unrelated to what was taught and is being assessed” (Drake, 2014, p.20). This definition suggests that teachers must take a plethora of factors into consideration in order to ensure that their assessment is fair. Unfortunately, the text also points out that this process is easier said than done. After conducting interviews with over seventy educators, Tierney, Simon and Charland found that even though they all stressed the importance of fairness in assessment, it was not reflected in all of their grading practices (Drake, 2014, p.20). With all this in mind, it becomes clear that fairness is not as clear-cut as we all thought it was back in kindergarten.

Retrieved from: http://geoffreydice.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/healthy-balance-1024x681.jpg

After initially coming across the “Fairness” section in Interweaving Curriculum And Classroom Assessment, I had a difficult time believing that this mundane concept would be crucial to my understanding of teaching. After doing a quick Google search, I was immediately proven wrong, as the idea of fairness is one that is constantly making headlines in the world of education. In fact, back in 2012, a federal complaint was filed after studies showed that black and Hispanic students were scoring significantly lower on admission tests for elite high schools. According to the educational and civil rights groups, the single-test policy is “racially discriminatory” and should be changed to, “to something that is nondiscriminatory and fair to all students” (Baker, 2012). Whether or not the actual test is unfair, critics suggest that black and Hispanic families could not afford to pay for the recommended tutoring. This gave white and Asian students an advantage, as their families could often afford the preparation services.

Now that I’ve highlighted the importance of fairness in the classroom, I thought it would be important to share a few ways to ensure that you are being a fair teacher. In his article, “Fairness Isn’t Equal: Seven Classroom Tips”, Dr. Richard Curwin gives teachers advice on how to ensure they are being fair educators. In my opinion, one of the most important lessons comes right from the title, as it is crucial to remember that fair does not always mean equal. Curwin is suggesting that treating all students equally can be dangerous due to the fact that not all students are the same. For example, if a student is late for class because his dentist appointment took longer than expected, he should not be punished to the same extent as another student who skips class for no apparent reason. This is not the only valuable tip that comes from Curwin’s article and I suggest checking it out.

              

Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RN3iLeq1828

Before I sign off, I want to leave you with this eye-opening video. Fairness is not the most glamorous concept and it is one that could be forgotten after years of teaching. In fact, many of you might not even see its importance right now. During this video, people are asked what the world would be like without teachers. Although each response is unique, the overarching theme between them is fairness. Many discuss how they were not the best students in school, but after interacting with a teacher that set aside biases and presumptions, they finally excelled. These individuals had fair teachers and judging by their responses, their lives were changed forever. That being said, make sure you do not forget about fairness, your students will thank you for it.




References

Baker, Al. (2012, September 27). Charges of Bias in Admission Test Policy at Eight Elite Public High Schools. New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/28/nyregion/specialized-high-school-admissions-test-is-racially-discriminatory-complaint-says.html?_r=0.

Curwin, Richard. Fairness Isn’t Equal: Seven Classroom Tips. Retrieved from: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/fair-isnt-equal-richard-curwin.

Drake, S. M., Reid, J. L., & Kolohon, W. (2014). Interweaving Curriculum and Classroom       Assessment: Engaging the 21^st Century Learner. Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press.