Tuesday, February 28, 2012

MY REPLY TO THE RECENT QUESTION: The GED should NOT be offered in replacement of a High School Diploma


I think that everyone should get their diploma rather than GED.  Diplomas and completing high school offers so many things that a ged will not such as social skills, friendships, getting used to structure and responsibilities, and assistance/guidance from instructors; however, I do think that G.E.D's are a good thing, and people must be able to choose to make accomplishment towards success through completing the G.E.D.. 

According to BJS.gov, 68percent of inmates did not have their diploma or equivalent, so offering them an opportunity to get their GED while incarcerated can help to lift their self-esteem, self-worth, and help them feel like they are making accomplishments.   

My brother, although highly intelligent, he was severely ADHD and had problems throughout school.  If a GED were not offered, he would have never gone on to college, like he has now.  Some people just do not do well with traditional schooling, so a G.E.D. is an alternative way for them to continue in life, and grow as an individual. 

I don’t think that employers will ever view a G.E.D. candidate in the exact same light as they would a person with a diploma, and I am not saying necessarily that they should.  High school education offers so much knowledge on so many different subjects, which is good for those who love to learn; however, some people know, at an early age, what they want to do with their lives, and decide to follow this path.  I think this can be great, and they can be masters in the subject that they are passionate about, while knowing far more about that subject than a person with a high school diploma who is applying for the same type of work. 

I think that, in a way, this is another symbolic approach on how we give meaning to the diploma, which I do not think is necessarily "the right way to go."  I’m more of the synoptic philosopher, and I do not like to focus on one area of knowledge, I would much rather know a little about a whole lot, which is why I consider myself a lifelong learner.  Not everyone is like this though, some people want to be masters at whichever subject they choose, which they can do so without a diploma.



My brother, for example, is a master ace when it comes to technology and computers (with barely over a 10th grade ed. but with a ged) but he has self-taught and mastered these skills, along with a natural ability within himself, but he has to complete college to get a good job in the industry, when in all honesty, he'd prob blow away the competition when he was up against college grads in the field.

I am hoping one day, the world will stop viewing these symbolic things, and associating attributes/meanings to them, and instead, view us each for who and what we are.....UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS (each of us) with our own unique talents and gifts.  Stop looking at the diplomas, statuses, education levels, etc. and instead base the skills on the knowledge that one has in the subject! 

There is a place in this world, where each of us belong, where we are masters, and use our own unique talents, gifts, and it’s called our vocation...........You just have to figure out what that is <3


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