Fair

Today I got yelled at, by a student. (It happens more than I'd like...) I heard those little words, "that's not fair!"

Got me thinking. I learned in inclusion training this month, that being fair is being different. I told the class. "No, I wasn't the same. I am being fair." I then got to explain to my class what I meant by that.

If I treated all my students the same that wouldn't be fair. Each and every person is different. So if I were to treat this child the same as everyone else, than I wouldn't be developing their strengths, or helping their weaknesses.

So giving a child, extra help when they need it and not giving that help to others, is fair. Having a top reader read a chapter book instead of the leveled reader is fair. Having a behavior plan, with rewards for the child that struggles with behavior is fair. Being fair is not being the same. Being fair is recognizing the strengths and weakness of each individual person and realizing that everyone is not the same.

So the next time your child tells you that something isn't fair. Reply that it isn't the same. That it is fair. Don't say that life isn't fair, but that life isn't the same. Everyone will not get what everyone else needs at the same time, because we are all different.