In the Nip in the Bud Podcast about Celebrating Diversity, teaching assistant Lauren Whitaker discusses the idea that equality means everyone getting the same, that all the children across the school have the same experiences, same opportunities, same resources and are taught with the same approaches to teaching and learning.
Equity is different. Lauren explains that schools and classrooms need to practise equity. This is where children are given what they need to succeed and to be able to learn and develop to their own unique potential. For example, one child may need extra support, a different resource, more time to complete a task or time out of class in order to be able to learn effectively. This should not be seen as special treatment but as an example of equity.
How can you help a child deal with moments of emotional dysregulation?
I once had a child in my school who struggled with regulating his emotions and his behaviours. As a result he would disrupt his own learning, disrupt the learning of his classmates and could be seen by some as rude or ‘naughty’. This little boy had a diagnosis of ADD, he had suffered from adverse childhood experiences and was not performing academically or socially inline with age related expectations. After working with him closely, creating an authentic relationship and winning his trust, he was taught to be able to identify how he felt just before dysregulation. As a result he began to understand himself better and his teachers were able to give him what he needed when he asked for help.
Sometimes this help would come in the form of walking Millie the school dog around the field. This gave him time out in nature, a space to breathe deeply and calm his panic. It gave him time with Millie who gave him unconditional love, something he lacked in his life. As he petted and stroked and spoke to her his mind, body and emotions would calm and he was able to return to class ready to learn.
How can you explain to parents and children the importance of addressing unique needs?
As a head teacher I would receive complaints from parents who did not understand his situation, his unique needs, or the careful work we were doing with him to help him to learn effectively so that he could begin to catch up with his peers. All they could see was a naughty child being rewarded with time out of class with the school dog. They felt this was unfair, not equality in practice.
Interestingly enough, the children in his class understood that this practice of equity was indeed fair and that it helped their friend to get what he needed to succeed. They knew they would get their time with the school dog during break or lunch, and they also knew that for them it was easier to stay in the classroom and to learn happily and confidently without the need for a break or for time out in order to regulate. They knew too, that if they needed support it would be there for them.
How do you teach diversity in schools?
All the children in my school were taught about the difference between equality and equity. They saw it modelled by the teachers and played it out themselves in their games and the support and care they gave to each other. I hope they will take this important lesson of equality vs equity out into their lives with them. That they will know how to ask for more help and support when needed, and how to be resilient and confident to learn in their own way and to offer others what they need to do the same. In The Nip in the Bud Podcast, Celebrating Diversity, Lauren gives an example of how she taught the children how to understand this concept through role play and by sharing this visual to help them to understand.
