Return-Path: <nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id j2TKwOG07059; Tue, 29 Mar 2005 15:58:24 -0500 (EST) Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 15:58:24 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <410-22005322920563875@ix.netcom.com> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Michele Anne Craig" <shellcraig@ix.netcom.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-FOBASICS:1342] Does the GED really mean more money? X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII X-Mailer: EarthLink MailBox 2005.1.57.0 (Windows) Status: O Content-Length: 1871 Lines: 37 In response to Barbara's post. I read the NCSALL information recently about whether earning a GED acutally translates into more money. I believe I read that if the students are male and white, they make about $1000 more per year initially (although this goes up over time). If they are hispanic or of color that the change in their employability and changes in their salary are negligable. And, although the GED does allow them to attend community colleges, only 30% or so of GED graduates do so. I had been looking at this research because our county recently made a goal of 100% of students without a high school diploma will receive a GED. The idea that this is even possible, let alone that if it were possible, it would change the employment situation, is beyond me. I think the GED is highly overrated as a measure of academic success, and that preparing someone to take the test is not really what I personally consider a good education. For example, the science topics cover things like genetics, chemistry, and photosynthesis. For me, teaching someone how to design an experiment to test a hypothesis, or how to make careful observations, is more in keeping with what real science is and is more useful to their lives. However, the GED doesn't test this. Similary, teaching someone to write an essay for the GED does not prepare them for the college level writing courses I taught at the community college. These same students ended up taking many years of remedial courses at the community college and working way harder than students who received a decent high school education. I think as educators, our goal should be educating people -- teaching them to think for themselves. Sometimes, this involves the GED, but I feel we are doing our students a disservice by making the piece of paper the primary goal. Michele Craig Woodland Adult School
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