Teacher explains equity and why students can’t always be treated equally—and it’s eye-opening

The lessons children learn early on shape how they see the world, making great teachers more important than ever. In a world full of inequities, helping kids understand fairness can play a crucial role in creating a more just future. Aimee, a 21-year-old third-grade teacher, posted a now-viral TikTok video demonstrating how she teaches fairness and equity in a way that truly resonates with kids. Her simple yet powerful lesson not only introduces them to the reality of inequity but also helps them grasp why resources should be distributed based on need rather than equally.

In her TikTok video, Aimee breaks down the concept of fairness using a simple band-aid analogy. She first asks her students if they’ve ever bruised their elbows, and naturally, hands go up. She then has one student describe how they got hurt before handing out band-aids to those with elbow injuries.

Next, she asks if anyone has bumped their head. A few students raise their hands, and as before, she asks one to share their story. But this time, instead of addressing their actual injury, she hands them a band-aid for their elbow. Confused, the students begin to realize something isn’t quite right.

She repeats the process, this time asking if anyone has scraped a knee. After listening to their stories, she hands out more band-aids—again, only for their elbows. By now, the students are thoroughly puzzled. That’s when she delivers the lesson: "Even though I handed the same thing (band-aid), to everyone who was hurt, it wasn't helpful to most of them. She then spells it out for them, explaining that "everyone getting the same thing isn't 'fair' but being 'fair' means everyone getting what they need to be successful." 

The lesson stuck. Aimee said her students are now far more empathetic and understanding in the classroom. "After this lesson, students are much more understanding when their friends with diabetes need an extra snack, when their friends with autism need noise-canceling headphones. When they're friends with someone who has ADHD and needs the fidget-spinner. It helps with everything," Aimee explained. The video has garnered over 1.4 million likes and was viewed close to 6 million times. Many TikTok users lauded Aimee for her methods, while some called on her to teach the lessons to adults who very much needed them.

Aimee later posted a follow-up video explaining that this was part of her ongoing equity lessons. As a teacher committed to inclusion and support, she often makes accommodations based on students’ individual needs. Sometimes, other students question this, saying, "it's not fair." In such situations, all Aimee needs to do is say the word "band-aid," and everyone gets it. She also explains why a teacher can't use a one-size-fits-all approach to teaching and plays various scenarios that might suit one student but not another. In one example, she explains why a fidget spinner can be very helpful to some students while it can be a distraction to others. 

While Aimee's lessons are for her third graders, they really should be explaining them to adults and world leaders because the world needs to address inequity more than ever. The wealth gap in America is a result of the inequitable distribution of wealth and its ever-widening. A band-aid might not be enough to address the gaping wound but it's a start.

You can follow Aimee (@heyaimeej) on TikTok for more teaching content.

This article originally appeared 3 years ago.