We hear and see the term “equity” bandied about lately in mission statements from corporations, schools, government – even the military. It sounds so noble and righteous; how could anyone possibly have an issue with it? The problem is it is completely inaccurate for what the users are trying to convey. What they are really striving for is “equality” or more specifically, equal opportunity in these organizations, not equity. While the terms are similar, there are significant differences. The Merriman-Webster dictionary describes the differences as follows:
“Equity is often related to justice or proportional fairness. Additionally, it is often seen in financial contexts relating to property or one’s share of a company. Equality differs from equity in that it relates more to sameness or equal distribution. In society, equal treatment does not always produce an equitable result.”
The last sentence is the most important as it relates to real life. There will never be an “equitable result” because as human beings, we all have differing levels of talent, drive, stamina, intellect, physical strength, work ethic, and so on. Those mitigating factors will never result in an equal outcome, nor should it.
The obsession with artificially fostering “equity” has resulted in absurd policies in some of the more left-leaning parts of the country including New Jersey. Attacks on Advanced Placement, or AP programs are just one example of the preposterous obsession with strong arming equity in our society. According to a recent article in the Washington Examiner, “The California Department of Education’s 2021 mathematics framework seeks to end accelerated math opportunities for gifted students due to racial disparities in “gifted” math programs.” New York City, never to be outdone by other locales in loony initiatives, announced in 2021 that “[former]Mayor Bill de Blasio will essentially end the public school “gifted and talented” program in its current form — eliminating a high-stakes test for four-year-olds and no longer separating our students deemed gifted into separate classes.” The same thing has happened in Boston, and there have been calls to end the AP program in New Jersey.
Not only is this practice destructive to the development of young minds, but it makes the ugliest of racist statements about certain racial and ethnic groups. Ending AP classes will deny talented students the ability to reach unfettered heights in their academic careers, while telling other students that because of their race or ethnicity, they cannot compete so in the name of equity, the program must be eliminated. Rather than get to the root causes of why some individuals or groups do better in certain cases, the progressive answer is to eliminate it for everyone.
One of the things that has made America so great is that it is a “meritocracy,” that is, where rewards are based on ability and qualifications which in turn, benefits society as a whole. If you take away the incentive to acquire and sharpen one’s natural abilities by limiting how far they can go in life so as not to surpass others’ achievements or lack thereof, we will be doomed to mediocrity. Opportunities should be open to all – from there, it’s up to the individual to reach for the stars. Checking a box should never be a qualification, nor should holding back others in the name of “equity.”
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Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger represents New Jersey’s 13th Legislative District.
