I think there is an inherent flaw in our American system and philosophy. I think this flaw is what is making our lives difficult. I think it is the reason that we are not excelling as a leader of the world. I think that it is costing us as Americans too much money. I think it may be a fundamental flaw in interpreting the meaning of the founding fathers. I think that we are mistaking “Equal” (as in “all men are created equal”) with “Same”.

It should be plain to see once you point it out that “equal” is not the same as “same”. “Same” implies that all elements and circumstances are similar or even identical, and when taken as an abstract whole can be considered to have a value. “Equal” does not have the same implication that the whole(s) as in comparison be the same or even remotely similar, but in the end have a comparatively similar value. For example, a person with 10 small American flags is the same as another person with 10 small American flags. However, you could say that the person with 10 small American flags is equal to a person with 1 large American flag. In both cases there is value in the flags, but in one the value is compared directly unit for unit and in the other a judgment is made that 10 small flags is comparable to one large flag. I know it is subtle, but this is important.

This concept it hit me years ago when confronted with Women’s Rights issues that my ex was so fond of quoting. I personally did not have a problem with equal pay for equal work, or consideration for pregnancy and so on. What I had an issue with was that some of these women wanted to be treated the same as a man. I do not care how you cut it, there are ways in which men and women are different and that cannot be changed. As a general rule men are more physical and generally women are more emotional, and therefore there are jobs more suited to each. There are exception on both sides, I am not talking about exceptions except that they prove the rule and I have no problems with the exception either, but when a woman wants a man to treat her exactly like a man, we have a problem. After all, viva la difference! In this way women are seeking equality with men but not parity. Some women have not figured out that equity does not have to mean sameness or parity, but rather equality in worth, salary and respect. I for one like holding a door for a woman, it is polite and recalls more chivalrous days and a higher civility. I do not have to have the door held for me by a woman; she is doing it for the wrong reason and does not get the point of the door holding and Women’s Rights (unless she is doing it for the right reasons [politeness] which I do not discount).

(Oy… all this politically correct speak and such, truly I do not mean any prejudice against anyone, but I still have watch every word and phrasing.)

So in the above example can we agree that women are looking for equality and not sameness? Are we really looking for women to wear pant suits instead of something more flattering? Should women give up what makes them special just to fit in with everyone else? And while we are at it, shouldn’t we as men wear dresses occasionally to make women more comfortable? Hmm… let’s get real about it all and move on understanding that equality does not mean everyone must fit the same mold.

So, let’s move on to a more immediate and potentially more devastating program that is now being evoked within our school system, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. While ostensibly a reauthorization bill with the inclusion of high standards for children and more teacher accountability, it has in actuality become the “every child must go to collage act”. It has now standardized scholastic testing and teacher evaluation and forced these on schools by refusing funding if the goals are not met. It also treats all kids the same and really does not take into account the special needs of some children. But let’s be clear here, it should be obvious that not all children are the same and no matter what we do not every child will be college material, and there is nothing wrong with the child if in the end they are not college material.

Because of this massive educational act we are now treating all children the same, not equal, but the same. In the system now if a child is more academically inclined, good at reading and math and such, they do well because the system is set up for them. On the other hand if a child is artistically gifted (or may struggle with a learning disability or some other issue that impairs their ability to learn) and not as apt at academics, their education is being neglected in an effort to bring these children to parity with academically inclined students.

It is a wonderful idea to think that college is available to all students and if this true it is a great stride forward for the education system in our country, but it is a different thing to say that all student must attend college. To paraphrase Erasmus, “In the country of Doctors, the Plumber reigns supreme!” In fact you can replace Doctors with any single college product and replace Plumbers with any blue collar occupation and still be on the right track. The point of the above is that in order for the country and society to move along smoothly you need a work force that does not have to be college trained. In fact, as is portrayed every year in June as the college grad get ready to look for work, there are far few jobs available for these college grads than most expect. Also, being a college grad with letter after their names they expect a pay rate that is well above those who do not attend more advanced education. This is required to pay off college loans. So where is the fairness in all this? In making everyone the same we are killing ourselves because their isn’t a plumber in the house.

We have to face the very real truth that all children are different, but all children must be allowed equal opportunity to excel. This does not mean they need the “same opportunities” to excel, it means that they are allowed to grow where they need to grow and into a life they need to be successful. An artistic child needs to be guided and enriched through the arts. A child with a mathematical ability needs to be guided to areas of pursuit that takes advantage of these gifts. In some cases the children will grow up and go to college, in other cases they may enroll in a trade school or work as an apprentice in a blue collar field, or finally not attend college at all if it does not suit them. But what is amazing in this scenario is that all these options are available.

It really is about the American Dream, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” The child says “I want to be a doctor.” Fine, we can provide you a path to that. Another child answers that she wants to be a poet, do poets need college? Some would say yes, some would disagree, but the options are there for the child’s choosing. Yes, some, many in fact, will go to college and take positions that our society needs filled. Yes, many in fact, will not go to college and take positions that our society needs filled.

The problem with creating a standardized program where everyone has the same expectations and are required to fill the same roles and everyone is expected to go to college is you get a standardized student. Right now it would seem the standardized student is not good enough compared to with global expectations. It seems to me when you give the student the keys to their own future, allow then to make the choices that they will take into the future, the overall effect was an overall better society.

Break the “sameness” mold, shoot for equality.