Pandora's Box and Inequity, especially in K-12 Education

Zeus, angry at mankind, sent a woman to cause trouble. The woman, created by Hephaestus, was very beautiful and thus when Zeus sent her to the house of Epimetheus, despite his knowing better, Epimetheus took her to be his wife. The woman, named Pandora (all-gifted) did indeed cause trouble by stealing a jar in Epimetheus' house and releasing its contents, the evils of the world. She felt sorry for what she had done and managed to trap inside only one element--hope.

Interestingly, this story bears strong similarities to the Garden of Eden in that the woman, through inadvertent action, releases massive evil and harm on the world. In both instances the woman appears to have had no ill intentions but to have caused great damage nevertheless; in both, the woman seems more a tool or an object intended for the use or punishment of man. In the Greek context, of course, gods were multiple and often in conflict whereas in the Judeo-Christian context God is a single (or three but actually one) entity.

I selected this picture (http://wanadi22.blogspot.com/2012_04_01_archive.html) because I appreciate that it shows Pandora in the wake of her having opened the box, whereas most depictions seem to separate her from the aftermath of her action. Also, the blog has some interesting ideas in it.

The evil which I would like to squelch (or to be squelched; I'm not sure that it's a manageable task for me alone) is inequity. Specifically, I define equity as equality of opportunity (not of outcome). At a certain point, I believe some inequity to be, if not inevitable, at least very entrenched. Somewhat arbitrarily I would draw that line at national borders, meaning that I believe that each person in the United States should begin life with roughly the same levels of opportunity.

At least, I think I believe that. I'm not entirely sure because a conflict exists, in the parent-child context, between the parent's right to aid the child and the rights of all children to receive some basic aid. What I am rather sure I believe is that all kids, especially within one country (and I'll admit that as being an arbitrary qualification to limit the factors I have to consider), should have some base level of opportunity.

I say equity and opportunity rather than equality and outcome intentionally. There is a justice, perhaps stark and unforgiving, in leaving people to feel the effects of their actions. There is no such justice in subjecting children to inferior conditions on account of the problems their parents may have had.

Most practically, this evil could be squelched (and can be seen) in the K-12 education system. Recently, an article that accuses those who send their children to private school of antisocial, non-egalitarian, and fundamentally unethical behavior. This article inspired several heated replies, the gist of which seemed to be either 1)but I like my wealthy private school (not very compelling) or 2) school choice increases performance (more compelling, but not fully responsive to the first article). I have thought for some time that the presence of private schools disincentivizes the socioeconomic elites from personally caring about public schools beyond an intellectual exercise. Whether or not private schools should be banned (or, in my view, a more realistic solution--public school could be made compulsory), I find it unacceptable that the assumption in many, particularly black, urban areas, is that public schooling will lead to failure--and thus, by extension, that if your parents cannot pay you are all but guaranteed to fail.

I will end by acknowledging my hypocrisy. My parents are well educated and that has doubtless helped me immensely. My home environment is stable and supportive. While I have (and am proud to have) always attended public school, my schooling has been good. And it is likely that I will attend a private university (though I see K-12 education as distinct from undergraduate and graduate education). That said, I think and hope that I would be willing to accept some sacrifice to increase equity, and I think doing so would ultimately benefit not only the kids who were formerly trapped in terrible situations but also society as a whole given the untapped potential of undereducated students.