Merit-Based Systems: Illusion of Fairness
President Trump signed an executive order aimed at undermining Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, arguing that advancements should be based solely on merit.
However, a merit-based system assumes equitable access to educational opportunities. Public schools are typically funded by property taxes, which means students from affluent families attend well-funded schools with superior resources. Do underfunded inner-city schools or those in rural communities provide students with merit-based access to Advanced Placement (AP) courses, challenging extracurricular activities, modern technology, or unimpeded pathways to college?
Although societal attitudes towards intolerance are gradually improving, many political leaders still attempt to dismiss or minimize systemic racial and religious discrimination.
For students with disabilities or those with English as a second language, is a merit-based system an opportunity or an insurmountable barrier? Merit-based advancement can only be effective if all participants are competing on a truly level playing field.
