Seeking Equity in Public School Funding From the Ancients

No press conference by Gov. Jerry Brown seems to be compelte without some reference to ancient Greek or Roman philosophy and literature – often declaimed in the original Latin.

The Democratic governor’s unveiling of his proposed $139 billion spending blueprint for the fiscal year rbeginning July 1 was no execption.

Generating the most media attention is Brown’s desire to change the distribution of state money to public schools.

His aim is to ensure that pupils with more challenges to success – being part of a lower income family, learning English – receive more money to get the help they need. 

“Growing up in Comtpon and Richmond is not like growing up in Los Gatos, Beverly Hills or Piedmont,” Brown said at a January 10 press conference.

Of his new methodology Brown said:

“It’s fair. It’s right. And it’s just.”

And in case that didn’t bowl over all opposition the governor said that the rightness of his approach is evident from Greek philosophy, first expressed all the way back in 300-and-some-change BC.

“Aristotle said, ‘Treating unequals equally is not justice,’ “ Brown told reporters with finality.

The quote from Aristotle that has survived through the ages is:

“There is nothing so unequal as the equal treatment of unequals.”

Same dif.

 (Editor’s Note: Consider the source. Aristotle is the same guy who said: “Politics appears to be the master art for it includes so many others and its purpose is the good of man. While it is worthy to perfect one man, it is finer and more godlike to perfect a nation.”)

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