Inequality of Educational Opportunity

Abstract

We hear a great deal today about equality of educational op portunity in America. It is difficult, however, for one who de votes much time to visiting rural, village, and city schools to hear this doctrine without vigorous protest. At any rate, one is led to insist upon a distinction between equality and identity of oppor tunity. Identity of opportunity means that the same opportunity is open to all pupils regardless of their abilities and interests. Equal ity of opportunity signifies that the pupil is offered opportunities in accordance with his abilities and interests. Accepting this dis tinction there is, in a very general way, identity of opportunity. But, when we consider an area as great as that of a country, even identity is apparent and not real, since one school has adequately trained teachers, another has teachers of little training; one pos sesses ample equipment, another has none; and one is provided with a modern, comfortable building, while another has a building unfit for school purposes. On the other hand, we have scarcely begun to consider equality of opportunity; in truth, many have not yet been convinced of the desirability of equality as opposed to identity. The general practice is to require all pupils to study the same subjects in the same way, and to make no distinction be tween mentally deficient and bright pupils; nor between those me chanically gifted and those who possess special abilities in other fields. All must be passed through the same mill; individual differences must be disregarded. It is true that the problem of equality is being worked out with a fair degree of success in some schools, but these are rela tively few in number and are confined very largely to cities. The schools in which least progress is being made are those of the small village and rural community. In this paper we are concerned, primarily with the village school. The following analysis in volves an examination of the pupils, teachers, buildings, equip ment, and the course of study. 195