Equal Treatment – Template for Activity 5.1
Before you begin thinking about making an ethical argument regarding the case, you should consider a new principle to add to your repertoire of tools; the Principle of Equal Treatment.
1. Describe and provide an example(s) of the Principle of Equal Treatment and its corollary consistent with the material from the text (p. 55).
2. Explain the nexus between “equal treatment” and “equal educational opportunity” (p. 55). In doing so, the candidate should address:
Important issues regarding equal opportunity (p. 55).
Any presumptions about race, gender, religion, and ethnicity as it relates to justice or injustice (pp. 55-56).
The permissibility (exceptions) of certain irrelevant criterion and why (p. 56).
The overall presumption for irrelevant characteristics as it relates to the allocation of educational resources (p. 56).
3. The text suggests that any (legitimate) argument about equality of opportunity will involve three sorts of claims. List and describe these claims (p. 56)?
4. On page 61, the authors say, “It seems, then, that the principle of benefit maximization is a potential threat to basic rights.” Why do they say this?
5. Discuss and answer the question with your thoughts from the text: Can Mr. Bergen appeal to the principle of benefit maximization on behalf of the disadvantaged Hispanic students, or can it only be used to justify the spending of our educational resources on those who are the most academically talented
6) Why is this said in the text: “It seems, then, that the principle of benefit maximization is a potential threat to basic rights”.