Post date: Jan 18, 2017 5:52:17 PM
Laura Freeman, staff
Chocolate or vanilla? Paper or plastic? High school diploma or GED? There are simple decisions, such as what flavor of ice cream to eat and harder decisions, including whether to finish high or get a General Education Diploma (GED). These are the decisions that shape an individual's future.
There are those individuals who want to get their GED and those who recommend finishing high school. Some people believe getting a GED is a shortcut and those opting for this path won't be as prepared for the real world. However, those who have gotten their GED believe they have the same knowledge as those who graduated high school.
85.4% of the candidates who tested in 2013 tried the GED® test for the first time. Among those first-time test takers who completed the GED® test in 2013, 80.1% passed the GED® test. Approximately 14% of candidates in 2013 were continuing or repeat test-takers.
Student Services Counselor Dadra Avery said, “I have been here for 11 years and I can count on one hand the number of students who have obtained a GED.”
According to centerforpubliceducation.org, GED recipients do not earn financially as much as students who stay in school and in a workplace. Employers show a clear preference for a high school diploma over a GED certificate. Individuals with a diploma will often be hired before those who have a GED. Getting a GED could affect a person’s chance to pursue some fields of work. However, it’s a choice.
“I think getting my GED will definitely limit my opportunities that I could have with a high school diploma. But at the end of the day, I still get money in the bank,” Mason Todd (10) said.
Getting a GED could affect acceptance not only in the business world, but to join the military and to obtain financial aid as well. Students who have a high school diploma and have demonstrated good grades will often be able to get financial aid that individuals with a GED cannot get.
For entry into the military, according to militaryspot.com, your education qualifications will determine what yier you are in as of 2015. Potential recruits are categorized into three tiers based on their education. Most enlistees are in Tier 1, which is for high school diplomas. High school equivalences are in Tier 2 and non-high school graduates are in Tier 3. Thus, holders of regular high school diplomas, assuming that they passed the physical and other requirements, are readily accepted for military service.
Some students have issues that intervene obtaining a diploma, making getting a GED seem the more preferable choice. Sometimes, due to family or personal financial circumstances, teens have to drop out of high school to go to work. For other high school students, personal issues intervene, making it burdensome to obtain a diploma.
Todd said, “I want to drop out and get my GED simply because I don’t like school. Passing the exam means that the test taker has met the basic high school requirements in English, math, science and social studies, so I will have the same knowledge as anybody who graduates.”
If staying in school is economically impractical, a GED shows employers that a goal has still been achieved, suggesting that someone who has earned a GED is looked on more favorably than someone who simply dropped out and ended his or her education there. A GED will indicate a level of completion while freeing you up to earn money.
The stigma of being a dropout, of lacking persistence or of taking short cuts connected with GED holders is not present for diploma holders. This idea accounts partly for the large difference in wages between the two groups. Plus, many institutions view the education gained by years spent full-time in school cannot be garnered by taking a day-long test nor indicated by it.
Sarah Freeman (12) said, “As someone who is about to graduate high school, I would recommend getting your diploma because it looks better on your resume when you go to get a job in the future. You will also end up making more money.”
There is no mistaking the lack of equivalency between holders of the GED and holders of a high school diploma. Many indicators soundly show that holders of the GED fall behind their diploma-holding peers. Many studies for the National Bureau of Economic Research lamented the fact that the number of students choosing to leave school and get a GED was rising because the students weren’t aware of how devastating that decision could be.
It is understood that high school can be stressful, but it is believed that graduates won't regret the work.
“All the stress and everything I had to go through was worth it to be where I am now," Freeman said. "I'm excited to be done with high school and move on with my life.”
For some people, the traditional school model just doesn’t work. Luckily, people now have the choice to get a high school diploma online. Getting a GED is now not the only option anymore.
Another alternative could be attending the academy at SBHS and working at an individual pace. In order to attend the Academy, according to SBHS Handbook, the student must be 16 years of age with a minimum of 12 credits, and have extreme or extenuating circumstances. Once admitted, the student attends school regular school hours. Students must complete each class within 4 to 5 weeks. Academy students follow the same school schedule and cancellations as Sturgis Brown High School.
All students must go through an interview process to be enrolled in the Academy. Admission is determined by a team that includes the principal, school counselor, Academy staff, student and parent or guardian.
If the Academy is not a preferred choice, help for individuals who feel they can't go on with high school or just want to drop out and get their GEDs can be found with Student Services, the department or division of services offering support for students. Avery, Pam Vinson and Shawn Koontz are SBHS student services personnel.
Avery said, “There is specific criteria mandated by the South Dakota Department of Education regarding who is eligible for a school-based GED preparatory program.”
According to Avery, the bill is very specific on who is eligible. For example, the student must be sixteen or seventeen years of age and must present written permission from the parent or guardian and one of the following:
Verification from a school administrator that the student will not graduate with the
student’s cohort class because of credit deficiency;
Authorization from a court services officer;
A court order requiring the student to enter the program;
Verification that the student is under the direction of the Department of Corrections; or
Verification that the student is enrolled in JobCorp as authorized by TitleI-Cof the
Workforce Investment Act of 1998, as amended January 1, 2009.
“My professional opinion in regards to students choosing to get their GED over their diplomas is that it depends on the student,” Avery said. “If a student meets all of the above state requirements, administration, counselors, parents and the student would discuss all of the options a student has to meet their academic needs.”
Generally, individuals will follow the right path for themselves even if it may not be the most academically pleasing to the people around them. People strive to please themselves, and what matters is that they are happy with the paths they choose. The question remains, however, what is the right path?