My daughter is 16 and very smart, high honor student. But she's been having trouble attending High School for various reasons. First reason is there's a lot of distractions, second reason she's always sick due to mono or asthma, and she hates being in crowded places. We are thinking of letting her get her GED instead of putting her through the agony of continuation of missing school. Has anyone let their kid do this or did you do this and turn out fine?
Nope but we decided IF our DS starts having problems after his sophmore year than we'd let him take classes online. But he can not take any opt out tests or go for a GED.
Opt out tests and GED are not always a good idea. But there are times where they are the only solution. My nephew did the opt out last year. HUGE mistake in our opinion because he is beyond lazy and extremely stubborn.
No . I think the process of learning including a home based on line K12 curriculum is beneficial.It helps with many practical skills also such as time management.I realize there are many successful people with GEDs but I still think a curriculum based learning as opposed to a GED is best.
I have my GED. I dropped out of high school in the 11th grade. My youngest sister and I were attending a small, all girls' Catholic high school, which we loved. Our parents, who never had much money to begin with, fell on hard financial times, and could no longer afford to pay our tuition. We grew up in the inner city of Cleveland, and our only other option for high school would have been a huge, overcrowded, run down public high school, with constant fighting, gangs, racial tensions, disrepect for teachers, low test scores, etc.
We both dropped out of high school, started working full time and got our GEDs. I got my GED and a diploma from a local business college within a year after dropping out. I started college at 19, and attended off and on while working full time, getting married, and starting a family. I graduated at 29, with my bachelor's degree, when my daughter was 5, and my son 4 months old. I've had many professional jobs, and I don't believe having a GED has been an impediment to success.
Do I wish I could have finished high school the traditional way? Sure. But it wasn't an option for me. I would look into any other options for alternative high school for your daughter, in your area, and if you don't find any, let her get her GED. She can be successful with a GED just as much as with a traditional high school diploma.
No - my son is only 3, and I expect that he will graduate high school. But if he was having some challenges like your daughter is having, I would allow him to get his GED and encourage him to enroll at a vocational school or community college. But while I don't have experience with it as a MOM, I thought you might be interested to hear of my experience as a sister...
My younger sister was having some problems in school - devastating for my parents, because she is very bright. She's really a great kid. Sparing you the long story and tedious details, she dropped out of high school at 16 or 17 and got her GED the following year. She went to a two-year college and completed her core subjects and is now in her final semster at the University of Georgia. She will receive a B.A. and is currently carrying a 3.8 GPA. She has had the "dream experience" in college - playing on the soccer team, making near-perfect grades, having a full and active social life, holding a good job throughout her time in school, volunteering, and now working in her field in a kick-butt interenship.
Earning a GED noes not equate to failure or burger-flipping.
That all depends on what state they live in. In AZ you have to be 16.
Quoting sandra1023:Generally you have to be 19 to take the GED, so what would she do for the next 3 years? That would be my main concern. Have you looked into programs such as K-12? It is an online program.
Scout Jan 1,2003 - Dec 14,2011. Miss you terribly my baby boy!
I too was an honors student in high school. When I was 15, my mother was diagnosed with cancer - and we didn't have health insurance. I had to immediately drop out and start working to help support my mother (who passed a few years ago). Despite not having a high school diploma, I still managed to be very successful in life - moreso than many of my friends who graduated. There are times I wish I had the opportunity to have a complete "high school experience" - after all, I missed out on friendships, opportunities, and prom. But then I remember the importance of those years of my life in helping my mother receive the best possible care, and the fact that such a hardship helped to shape who I am today.
Getting a GED didn't have any negative influence on college; I have two associates and I'm about to graduate with a BS in Political Science with a 4.0 GPA.
My best friend also received her GED; she couldn't attend high school due to severe scholiosis that limited her mobility. She also did well in her adult years too, and I don't believe a GED limited her. It really depends on the person, though, and your daughter will have to understand that she will have to make up for the limitations of a GED (particularly the perception that GED-holders are stupid, lazy slackers) with harder work and a better work ethic than her graduated peers.
Good luck!
Also, I just remembered - some states have scholarship opportunities. I remember that I earned a partial scholarship for having a high score on the GED - not hard to do in the state of Louisiana, however (lol).
Quoting sandra1023:Generally you have to be 19 to take the GED, so what would she do for the next 3 years? That would be my main concern. Have you looked into programs such as K-12? It is an online program.
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I'm ready to pull the earbuds out of his ears and put them somewhere less comfortable.
- peanuts1
on Feb. 13, 2012 at 11:52 AM