Fair Isn’t Always Equal

At some point, almost every child has said, “That’s not fair.”

And as adults, we’ve probably said it too.

Fair often feels like everyone getting the same thing. The same rules. The same expectations. The same support. But in school — and in life — fairness looks a little different.

A student once said, “Why does he get extra time? I finished already.”

It was an honest question. A fair one.

What that student couldn’t see was that the extra time wasn’t an advantage — it was a support. Just like glasses help someone see the board, or a ramp helps someone enter a building, extra time helps some students show what they know.

Children come to school with different stories. Some learn quickly, others need more time. Some feel confident raising their hand, while others are quietly managing anxiety, learning challenges, or difficult mornings at home. When we treat every child exactly the same, we risk missing what they truly need.

For students, this means understanding that someone else getting help doesn’t take anything away from you. It simply means they are receiving the support they need to succeed — just as you deserve support when you need it.

For parents, it means trusting that flexibility and accommodations aren’t about lowering expectations. They are about giving children the tools they need to reach those expectations in their own way.

When students feel understood rather than compared, something powerful happens. They become more willing to try, to ask questions, and to believe in themselves. School becomes a place where differences are accepted — not judged.

Fair isn’t always equal — and that’s okay.

Because real fairness meets each child where they are and helps them move forward.

And when we do that, everyone grows.