Dupage Policy Journal

Local activist Richard Morton thinks the Hinsdale High School District 86 Equity Statement raises more questions than it answers.

“So, in the backdrop of all the D86 drama, I have started looking at Hinsdale High School District 86's Equity Statement in all its glory,” Morton posted on Facebook. “I have read it about a dozen times and I still cannot make any sense of most of it. In my opinion, whenever you write, you should write in the simplest terms possible that the subject requires. Anything beyond that for most written needs is pure ego. The D86 equity statement should be clear and not require effort to comprehend. D86's effort is not close to that standard."

Morton insists that holds true by virtually every metric imaginable.

“To make sure it was not my lack of preparation, I ran it through some readability systems,” he said, adding that the evaluations included more than one “very difficult to read” rating.

“Even though D86 failed to write in simple terms, let us explore a single element of these 3,000 plus word-long statements,” Morton added. “After the opening preamble, it reads: 'We will accomplish this through coherent, deliberate, and intentional equity work that prioritizes the equality of opportunity and equality of outcome for every student.' "

"My question is how do you achieve equality of outcome? I see only one path, which may explain why the bizarre curriculum experiments are being offered that include less rigor and achievement.”

Morton is hardly alone in his assessment, with his Facebook post generating such comments as “perhaps their intent is to perpetuate systemic academic dependency, need to hire someone with an advanced education degree to translate,” by John Czerwiec and “equity of outcome, equal opportunity and equal outcome are mutually exclusive, because the statement promises all three - it promises nothing but confusion” by Kim Nibeck Notaro.