Definition Essay: Does Equal Mean The Same?

Does equal mean the same? No. This essay will cover different topics that show equal doesn't mean the same. Harry Blackmun, a former U.S. Supreme Court Justice, said, "In order to treat some persons equally, we must treat them differently." This makes sense when you're talking about multiple things such as: Special needs students or people, People who have disabilities, and even children. Special needs students often get treated as outsiders or they even get satirized/mocked. In ordinary schools or classrooms, they often need tutors or aides to help them with their studies. This is so they get a fair learning experience, or the same as what other students get. Yet, most other students don't get to have tutors or aides help them throughout the day. They also commonly have their own classrooms to study in so they don't get distracted by the other students. Since the common student wouldn't have a problem with these things- they wouldn't require or need these extremities. Yet they're getting the same knowledge and learning worldliness as a "normal" or average student would have. This is a very occurring example of equal treatment, but not the same as everyone else.

many people with disabilities have some form of honorarium or income to help them, since they won't be able to have a normal job they can work at due to their disability. This is an example of treating someone differently so they can have an equal lifestyle to what the average citizen would have. They can have a family, a house, pay bills, and have a "normal" life without working due to their disability. So, just as a methodical, or average person would, they get a normal income depending on how big their family is, what their disability is, and other different factors. This portrays an example of treating someone equally, yet giving them an advantage, or starting point to prevent them from