[kay]

Indy, this sounds like a great solution for V. It's so great that you can see the bigger picture of his education, to see where he's succeeding (yay, V!) and to look beyond the tests. Unbelievable that the school can't/won't make some accommodation. Well, not unbelievable, it happens all too frequently - but they sure should be more responsive. Hope it works out well. (It'll already work out in the trust department with V - he KNOWS Dad is looking out for his best interests, and believes in him!)

[waited2long]

See, I never even got the GED... Any forms I fill out either say "finished some highschool" or "completed Gradeschool"!!!

It's interesting that McDonalds would rather hire a nineteen year old who barely got out of highschool, over me, with over 15 years experience of running my own businesses. It's pretty humbling.

I think being able to say GED is MUCH better!!

I love the Cyber Schools they have now, I would definitely have finished highschool if they'd had them available when I was young. But, that was before the invention of computers. Well, they existed, but most took up entire rooms....

[lucyjoy]

Waited-you can still get your high school diploma if you really want it. (just don't assume the identity of a 15 year old cheerleader to do it!) There are adult night classes and there are cyber schools that accept adults in high school programs.

[momraine]

I am so glad they have more options now. When I was young, there were very few options. I wanted to finish high school, but it just was not an option and the GED was the only other option. It just bugs me that it still sometimes appears on forms. Even though I now have some college, job applications always ask about high school and graduation as well as asking about college.

[sundara]

My mom dropped out of HS at 15 years old in 1955. When she realized my sister was going to graduate HS in two years, she panicked & then went to adult school & graduated - 1 month before my sister! (she had 5 kids at home, a hubby in the navy deployed most of the time, but still pulled it all off). It IS possible folks - hang in there & you can do it too!

On Indy's note - I think this is a common problem. All four of my kids have this issue with testing, and sometimes with just 'forgetting' to turn in the homework & then not turning it in because the grade drops 50% for the 1st day late. I keep telling them to get it turned in because every point helps, but they don't see that, even when I show them the math... its amazing.

Anyway - I think this is very common issue with traumatized kids & it is unfortunate that the school is so inflexible in this regard.

Great job in finding a way to make this happen in a way that works for him, though I am wondering how you will manage home schooling on top of fathering 10 kids!!! I would personally end up pulling my hair out!

[momraine]

Once you have 12 college credits it counts as having graduated. I long since have gotten more credits than that. I only mention it because no one told me at the time. I was told it was "The same thing". Had I been told how long it would follow me and how it would make me feel. (that just may be me, I happened to like school and was a good student, so those who hate school may feel differently) I might have tried harder to find a way to get that diploma way back then.

[waited2long]

Originally Posted by lucyjoy

Waited-you can still get your high school diploma if you really want it. (just don't assume the identity of a 15 year old cheerleader to do it!) There are adult night classes and there are cyber schools that accept adults in high school programs.

I think I you!!! I nearly fell out of my chair I was laughing so hard!!

I have actually considered doing as you're suggesting, going to a night-school. It will get me a diploma and I might enjoy it, since my social life is now 99% online. I'll probably look into it after I've moved and get settled a little.

Sorry for hijacking your Thread Indy! I still agree that giving V a different choice for his education is a terrific idea!

[Barksum]

Know a family that had their kids do their GED's by the end of 8th grade. THEN they went to community college to get their AA. Then they went to university to get their degrees. One went on to get his masters, and now he almost has his Phd. At age 21.

I think it is how you use your GED. We encouraged one of our foster kids to go for their GED as school was really difficult for them. BUT we said, "Get your GED and go to a good trade school." This child had a talent for and a huge interest in mechanics.

[Lylac]

I'm a PROUD GED graduate! I quit school when we got out for Xmas break in 1980. I was married 3 months later and just never went back. In 1996 I was working in a factory through a temp agency and in order to get hired full time, you HAD to have a GED. The company paid for it, so I thought ok, I'll do it.

I've only been out of school for at least 15 years My baby sister worked there also and had quit school about 3 months earlier. So we took our test at the same time..NO studying, NO classes..nothing but a prayer.

We both passed with flying colors BUT I scored 1 point higher than baby sis

I have to say that, that IS the one thing that I've done just for me.
Baby sis went on to nursing school, and is the charge nurse, plus something else, can't remember exactly how she said it..at our local hospital..making almost $30 an hour..Me..well ya'll already know what I did
So it's NEVER too late!

Also around here they will hire someone with a GED before a High school graduate..They seem to think that they worked harder to get it.

[Again!]

I don't know about the laws in your state, but in Texas, you can pull him to homeschool and take him through a HS diploma if that is an issue. I would personally go with the GED as it is faster and I think the nuances of GED vs diploma are not the biggest problem for our kids. Good for you, I've had a lot of success with homeschooling compared to schools.