Do GED recipients face discrimination in education and?

Question

the working world?
I had a learning Disability and through no fault of my
own could not meet the requirements of a high school diploma.Do you think if the help was available when I was younger I could have gotten
a Diploma? I was surprised to pass the GED on
the first try since I was never taught much in
special ed classes. I guess it is automatically
my fault I could not meet the requirements of a
diploma thats what society says. I gave up on
College because I know I never will be able to
do the work I was told that.I wish people would
quit bad mouthing the GED,it is a second chance
and where would a lot of people be without it?
More on welfare. Is it true you can not get into
the military with a GED? The military
use to give the GED to their recruits who did not
graduate from high school.Not anymore.I am
in my 40s.

There was no IEP in the 1970s,I was in special ed and was hardly taught anything.I was told I waould never be ablre to go college and was not capable of learning much.

Answer 1

Many people who receive GEDs are actually intelligent, but their behavior is so hyper that they do not want to sit in high school with other students or they became parents before they received a high school diploma and have no babysitter for their children. Sanjaya received a GED because he was tired of school and wanted to be out of school at the age of 16, instead of 18. What did you Special Education teachers tell you when they were working on your IEPs in high school?

Answer 2

A GED is recognized as a regular high school diploma. I have a GED, and since have gone on to college. I have been a special education teacher for the last 11 years. A GED will get you into college and I believe the military, too, although at 40 you may be too old for the military (sorry!).
A GED is better than a special diploma, which is not accepted at some jobs and most colleges. Congratulations to you for taking & passing your GED. You can't be that bad in your studies if you did that! Best wishes to you.

Answer 3

A very good question. I think the GED can count more than a HS diploma--You have to take extra steps and assume a greater burden than the high schoolers. I am very sorry that you weren't given better opportunities in school that would have allowed you to fulfill your potential.

Tour question is very articulate. Most employers treat the GED as equal to HS diploma. There are people out there who graduated who can't read or write. When I was in the military, GEDs were common but that was 40 years ago.
I'm not sure what the rules are now.

In an interview, if you appear courteous and able to deal with people in a good way as well as speak, read, write and understand/learn job responsibilities, people will hire you.

Good luck.

Answer 4

In today's world, I do not believe that the education field or the working world really cares much about a GED vs. Diploma. They just want to make sure you have the basics.

As far as not going to college -- why not go now? What is stopping you? So you were told in the past you couldn't do the work. But take hold of "NOW," and take a chance. I'm sure you have many experiences that will take you far in college life.

When I started college, most of my classmates were in their mid-30's - 60 years old, and some of those peers are my closest friends to this day.

You may want to see about enrolling in a tech or community college.

Good luck.

Answer 5

I would say all child free individuals and couples face intrinsic discrimination is society. I am Australian and we recently had a general election for a new federal government. During the campaigning prior to the election, the politicians on both sides were frantically trying to out do each other in promoting tax breaks and special payments and services for families and mothers with babies. Of course this was no different from any other election in the past. The point is that single people subsidize the children of others through higher taxation. Govermental policies regard the needs of adults with children to be more important that that of childless adults. Nobody tries to entice the vote of the childless adults, they are not considered a legitimate demographic and even to suggest they are is often regarded as something perverse. Politicians have even said they are unashamedly pro-family biased in their policies and this is simply an admission they are discriminatory (but in a legal manner since there are no policies to protect single people as a demographic). I am childless by choice. I believe that our world has far too many people and a lot of people who demand the right to children are basically selfish. If they believe in children so much, why not adopt rather than give the overburdened planet (and single taxpayers) another mouth to freed?

Answer 6

There's nothing wrong with the GED itself. The problem is that it is overused as a way for young people to bail out of high school early. I've worked in the Special Education field for 25 years, at a high school level for 7 years. You say you're in your 40's, I'm guessing you were in high school in the 80's? I work with learning disabled students everyday. The only way it would be your fault would be if you hadn't applied your best efforts while you were in school. Otherwise, no, it's not your fault, I'm just surprised that your parents/guardians didn't pursue the educational system on your behalf to get you assistance in the classroom. Don't give up on college...you can do anything you put your mind to and with the resources available to you today, you have no excuse for not pursuing it if that's what you choose to do. The ADA (Americans for Disabilities Act) would be of great assistance to you. Go to the local business office of a college you'd be interested in attending and ask for information or look in the phone book. It might take some effort, but you can do this. It sounds like you've spent several years talking yourself out of moving on by telling yourself that you can't do the work required in college. From what I understand, there are tutors willing to assist those having difficulty in given class areas...but you've got to get out there and ask, if you don't, you'll never get anywhere! Get up and go!

Answer 7

One of the reasons for the GED is to give people a chance to show that they have the knowledge to complete requirements for a high school diploma. It gives them one of the tools they will need for college. No, you probably won't get accepted at Harvard or Yale, but you can start in a community college and you can get a 4-year degree. People to it all the time. I did it and I have friends who have done it. Don't quit because you think you can't do it.
You have to believe that you can then go do it.
Good luck.

Answer 8

I believe that in most cases people are not discriminated against because they have a GED versus a high school diploma. You can still get into colleges and the military (I believe) with a GED. You may have to take basic courses at a community college prior to going to a 4 year + university. Each university is different. The admissions department at any university can help you with questions. I know in the state of Indiana, I have heard of many people going to Ivy Tech Community College to take math and English classes prior to applying at Ball State University, Indiana University, and Purdue University.

In the state of Indiana, it is believed to be more difficult to get a GED than it is to get a high school diploma. In order to get a high school diploma, you must pass the ISTEP and GQE. This is very difficult for our students with special educational needs. The ISTEP is based on a 9th grade education where the GED is based on a 12th grade education. I teach special education at the middle school level and most of my students really struggle with ISTEP due to the reading and writing part. There are very few modifications we can do to for the students on the ISTEP. The ISTEP does more testing of their disability than it does testing what they know. It is sad!

Answer 9

My husband got a GED and was in the military. I also got a GED and went right to college...it really is as good as a high school diploma in the working world and it's never really brought up. Some people get it because they didn't finish High School...or some people get them because they are smart enough to leave school early and go right to college.

Answer 10

Did you check with your local Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR)? And I bet you could go to college - most offer assistance to students with special needs - like note takers, tutors, etc. Most communities - through your local unemployment office - offer refresher courses and funding for vocation/education. Also, if you were diagnosed with an MR or LD you may check with your local Assoc. for Retarded Citizens (ARK)