President Biden signed some executive orders this week regarding several topics. 2 of those regarded promoting equity for all races and sexual orientation.  There are subtle differences between equity and equality. When I was teaching there was some conflict between teachers regarding this difference. As a group there was a fund provided by the school board to cover health insurance premiums. It was divided equally among the teachers but not given to them directly.  Instead it was used to pay the group health insurance premium for the teachers. These premiums were different amounts depending on each teachers circumstance. There were single, couple, and family premiums. Some teachers did not have health insurance through the school because their spouse had insurance which covered them.  So, in order to be equitable and fair, any money left over from the fund was applied equitably to the teachers that had higher premiums. Our thinking as a teacher’s union was that our teaching staff deserved to have the peace of mind in knowing they could afford to cover their family with health insurance.  We operated this way for years. The two schools I taught in did the same thing.

Then, a single teacher with influence with the school board decided that she wanted it to be equal. She was covered by her husband’s insurance so she wanted her share in dollars and not to be shared with others. So, the contract was negotiated in a very difficult process and changed.  No longer could other teachers rely on the help covering their family insurance. I think this was the wrong move but it just takes one or two people to cause a change.

The security of knowing your family’s health insurance premium is protected is equitable. The even splitting of the money between all teachers was equality. Our mantra as a teachers union was “Fair is not always equal.”  Another example is housing, our house is not big and grand but we have sufficient housing. In no way is it equal to a large 15 room mansion down the street. But it is equitable.

So don’t be looking for equality in these Presidential orders and their implementation but look for equity, fairness, and impartiality. If we all understand the difference maybe we can all get along.