What follows is another excerpt from my work-in-progress on teaching English Language Arts with AI-Tools, like ChatGPT.

In a political and educational context, “equality” refers to the idea that all individuals should be treated the same and have equal access to opportunities and resources regardless of their background or circumstances. The aim of equality is to provide equal treatment and opportunities for all individuals, so everyone has a fair chance to succeed.

“Equity,” on the other hand, recognizes that not everyone starts from the same place and that treating everyone the same may not address existing inequalities and may even perpetuate them. Instead of treating everyone the same, equity seeks to balance out unequal starting points by providing additional resources and support to historically marginalized groups so they have a fair chance to succeed. In this sense, equity focuses on fairness and justice, rather than just equal treatment.

In a nutshell, equality aims to provide equal treatment to all, while equity seeks to balance out unequal starting points and provide fairness and justice to all individuals, regardless of their background or circumstances.

It’s no secret that the term “equity” has become a political buzzword in recent years, and its use has become a source of controversy and division. Some view the term as synonymous with reverse discrimination and believe that it promotes a culture of victimhood and political correctness. They argue that equity initiatives can create new forms of discrimination, as well as stifle freedom of speech and expression.

However, advocates of equity view it as a way to address historical systemic injustices that have disadvantaged certain groups of people. They argue that equity initiatives are necessary to ensure that everyone has an equal chance to succeed and that existing power structures must be disrupted to achieve true equality.

We should recognize that there is a wide spectrum of views on equity initiatives among advocates, and there is no consensus on how far these initiatives should go. Some believe that equity initiatives should focus on providing equal opportunities and removing barriers that prevent marginalized groups from succeeding. Others argue that equity should go further and aim to provide compensatory resources and support to those who have been historically disadvantaged, so they can catch up with others.

AI tools like ChatGPT can play a role in addressing equity issues in writing education in several ways:

1. Improving writing skills for non-native English speakers: ChatGPT can assist non-native English speakers in improving their writing skills by providing suggestions for grammar and vocabulary, allowing them to express their ideas more effectively and participate more fully in the writing process.
2. Providing personalized feedback: ChatGPT can provide personalized feedback to students on their writing, helping them to identify strengths and weaknesses, and offering suggestions for improvement. This can provide students with targeted support and help close gaps in writing skills.
3. Offering writing support to students with disabilities: ChatGPT can provide writing support to students with disabilities, such as those with dyslexia or visual impairments, by offering alternative forms of feedback and support that are accessible to all students.
4. Increasing writing accessibility: ChatGPT can help to increase the accessibility of writing education by providing students with writing support that is available at all times, regardless of their location or schedule. This can help to remove barriers to education and provide all students with equal opportunities to improve their writing skills.

Ultimately, AI-tools address both issues of equality and equity as they can address each individual’s needs, situation, culture, deficits, and excellence. AI-tools can help those with writing deficits build their writing competence and confidence. Additionally, for good writers, AI-tools can serve as a helpful tool for editing and refining their writing, helping to ensure that their writing is clear, concise, and effective. Overall, AI-tools like ChatGPT can support individuals in their writing efforts and help individuals of all writing abilities improve their skills and reach their full potential.