Friday, February 17, 2012

In praise of GED students

Seven students will take eight GED tests in Shawano on Tuesday. One other Oconto Falls student will take two tests in Marinette on Thursday. That's a good week on my schedule and in the lives of these students.

Each one of these tests represents hours of work by the individual student, who is working hard to complete the GED or HSED so he or she can move ahead in life. Job choices for workers who don't have the GED are limited, and my students are very aware of that. They face that limitation on a daily basis. That's why they are working in my Basic Education lab or taking the GED FastTrack course. The question about high school diploma on a job applications is a deal-breaker for even the skilled worker, since employers prefer to hire those who have a high school credential.

Those who come back to GED preparation after five, 10, 20 or even 30 years should be congratulated. They are making the first steps on the road to educational recovery. Those who then have the courage to take one of the five individual tests should be praised by family and friends. It's not easy for anyone to come back to school. There are lots of reasons not to come to the BE lab, but only reason to do it -- it opens more doors and creates hope for a better future.

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