What does equality mean?

[Douglas Burks]

I have been thinking about "seeking equality through education." As I
have thought about that question, I question if higher education
brings equality or if it contributes to continuing a structure of
inequality in society. As access to a quality college education
becomes more difficult how can we build greater equality?

[Gary Farlow]

I long ago gave up on producing equally capable students. Higher
Education is by its structure a meritocracy. As such it is not
designed to promote equality but differentiation of accomplishment.
(Consider that we assign grades for classwork, and rank for the
professoriate)
It can be legitimately argued that education promotes opportunity
in life. A better question might be, "What kind and level of education
provides opportunity in life?"; "What kind and level of education
provides specific opportunities in life". In Physics (which I teach)
the introductory courses are, or should be, accessible to any who
satisfy the requirements of admission to the university and they provide
opportunity for understanding the world around us in useful ways. The
advanced courses in physics however are quite specifically designed to
provide skills and insights which provide very particular
opportunities, differentiated from the general public.

Should it however not be obvious that any group of persons who are
systematically excluded from obtaining these opportunities independent
of their merit, whether by practice or circumstance, are denied a type
of "equality of merit-class"; and, their lack of opportunity becomes a
detriment to both themselves and to the larger society?
Should it not also be obvious that those who gain opportunities
have an obligation to use them on behalf of those who do not or cannot
obtain those opportunities?

[Tom Smith]

I do not believe that equality in this context means an equal "education" or a leveling of expectations, capabilities, or outcomes. I believe that what needs to be taught is an equality of "worth." Is a physics degree "worth" more than an arts degree? Is working on the maintenance staff "worth" more than teaching in the political science dept.? It is obvious that worth is not equated with $ in these situations nor with talents or capabilities. When education, especially "higher" education, becomes more about getting a well paying job or a "prestigious" position than about learning about promoting the well being of all and understanding that we are all inter-connected and to a degree inter-dependent, regardless of position, then I believe we have missed the point.

It is the equality summarized and paraphrased by the idea that in that if it happens to the "least" of us it in someway happens to each of us that education, especially Friends education, should be working to achieve.