During their study of Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement, Mr. Bradshaw’s and Ms. Carter’s English classes participated in an equity vs. equality activity. Each student was given a family/home life scenario at random. Students all started in a line side-by-side. Based on their family/home life scenarios, they either took steps forward, backward, or stayed in place. Some scenarios that called for steps forward were married parents, parents are college graduates, and no history of mental illness. Some scenarios that called for steps backward were drug use in home, parent or parents in prison, and not living with parents. Once all the students were staggered they were asked to race to a grand prize. Some students who were way in the back didn’t even try for the grand prize. When asked why they didn’t try, they said, “There were too many people ahead of me that I knew I was not going to win.” This activity sparked great conversations in class about equity, equality, and rights people have fought for.
Sample family/home life scenario:
Parents: Married
Parent/Guardian education: high school dropout
Drug Use in Home: yes
History of Mental illness: yes
Siblings: 4. You help take care of the kids
Household Income: <$25,000
