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GED’s - to take or not to take

GED’s - To take or not to take.

There is one issue that keeps coming to my attention by would-be homeschoolers, or hesitant parents who are thinking about homeschooling. It is the diploma -vs.- GED issue. Parents who have not homeschooled before are sometimes leery of GED, since before the era of homeschooling popularity, having a GED meant you could not pass public school criteria, or that you were a drop-out. Not so in today’s society. GED is not just for ‘losers’ anymore! J So, leaving that aspect and going on to what I would really like to address, lets focus on experienced homeschoolers with children reaching their high school years. The question- Should I allow my child to get a GED?

Most people hope their children will continue to follow the ideas they have been taught as they grow up. That’s the whole purpose in homeschooling, in a way- to (ourselves) mold our children into the adults we believe would benefit the Lord and society in the best possible manner. Most homeschoolers wish that their children would grow up and homeschool their own children, eventually.

To begin homeschooling in the state of WV, you must have a diploma or a GED. Thus, if our children wish to homeschool their own children later, they must have a GED, since WV does not grant diplomas to homeschoolers. (Neither do they accept the credits of most Christian schools if you decide to put him/her in public school. Nor will they accept a Christian school diploma.)

Some people who do not live in a state with said requirement, have expressed that they feel that getting a GED is a bad example to other homeschoolers. They feel that it is a compromise on the part of a homeschooling (especially Christian) family to comply with the status-quo of passing a ‘secular’ (in this case) standardized test.

Some of the main arguments for this thinking are:

1. The relinquishment of parental rights must always be guarded against when dealing with civil and educational government standards.

2. As Christians we are told to ‘come out from among them and be ye separate’. (2 Cor 6:14-17)

3. We should never put our children into situations which we think may be harmful to their spiritual well-being.

4. It may be a flawed theory, that passing a standardized test or not, determines a person’s ability or knowledge. Some folks test well while others freeze up.

On the other hand:

1. Just because you comply with a civil law to attain an end, -ie homeschooling-, doesn’t mean you are compromising your standards or rights (given by the government, by the way) as parents. Civil government is always obeyed in Scripture when it does not go against the laws and/or precepts of God. (Matt 17:27, Rom.13:1-8, Titus 3:1 are some examples)

2. It is agreed that Christians should be separate from the world system, for we have no part in their wickedness or gain. This world is not our home, we are just passing through; pilgrims and sojourners in this place. Therefore, we are technically in bondage to those ‘higher powers’ we read about in Rom. 13. The Bible never contradicts itself. I believe, to be in compliance with their rules, (as long as it doesn’t contradict the laws of God) is the will of God. I have heard it said, “We are to be IN the world, but not OF the world.”

3. Will it hurt my child spiritually? This is kind of ‘touchy’. First, it is understood that all children are not alike in their spirituality. (As a matter of fact, I’ve never seen a spiritual child. I have seen many kids sing, quote the Bible, and even witness for Jesus- RIGHT before they hit their sister and throw a temper tantrum. But I digress. J ). Nevertheless, a child, by the age of 16 or 17, should they have come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, will probably be able to experience the ‘world’ and discern good from evil. We all must learn to choose the good and refuse the evil. There will come a time when your child MUST choose for him/her self. One of the hardest things a parent must do is let go of their control, and let their child have a relationship with the Lord. I am of the opinion that if your child cannot discern the lies perpetuated by the world system by the time they are ready to graduate from high school, you have not done your job as a parent. As far as their spiritual well-being when they are out from under your tutelage, it is up to you whether to teach the right thing or not, but it is the Lord who must protect them and keep them unspotted. (2 Peter 2:9, Prov. 21:31, Prov.16:7)

It is up to you as well, as to how you tell your child to answer such questions that may occur. Do they answer them the way the test makers expect, or do they answer in the Biblical way? Well, are they there to pass a test or teach Sunday School? Before you stone me for blasphemy, I am in no wise saying be hypocritical or double-minded. However, you are not about to change the test makers’ minds if you do not answer a question the way they want it answered just because you do not believe in evolution. On a GED, there is no place for a written-in opinion. Honestly, in my experience of standardized tests, there are SOME things that need to be warned of, and some things are just silly. If you’ve done your job, your teenager will know there are no 5 million year old “anythings”. Answer the question they way they want it to be answered and know that it is a lie. Simple.

4. I don’t think I have a Biblical answer for this one. I agree with the non-testers in this aspect, actually, having three children, none of which are alike when it comes to testing. I do think, however, that you cannot keep tests of some kind from entering into the life of your youngster. God tests us and tries us according to our abilities and strengths, AND to reveal to us his will, AND to exercise our faith. I have yet to sit down with paper and pencil and hand in a written test to the Lord, but tested, I have been and will continue to be. Also, I don’t believe God is a ‘standardized’ tester. (Rom. 12.) I also believe that we must study to show ourselves approved unto God, but not only to Him. It boils down to, there are some things that you don’t like to do which may be hard, but they may be a necessary stepping stone toward a higher goal.

By the way, most colleges do not require a diploma or GED for admission, but they do require an SAT or ACT. I don’t know about Bible Colleges, but if they are accredited colleges, I would assume they would require an SAT or ACT (which are ‘secular’ standardized tests) and which opens up a whole new subject as to how to further your child’s education. Once again, a college diploma trumps a high school diploma or a GED - unless the college degree is from a non-accredited college.

As parents, the one thing we must do is pray that we make the right decisions to the GLORY OF GOD. Some people’s decisions are not meant to be others’ decisions as long as God gets the glory. Compromising should never be an option when it comes to the gospel or the fundamentals of the Bible, OR of the scriptures themselves- but let’s be sure that when we think others are compromising, we are not judging a matter out of pride, strife or our own vain glory- even to the point of whether or not others homeschool! To GOD be the glory. (Question, Non-homeschoolers-CAN you glorify God by NOT homeschooling? Can you honestly say that sending your child to a public school WILL bring glory to God? Think long and hard about that before judging the homeschoolers.)

Though I have decided to homeschool and are aware of some obvious benefits, if someone else does not home school their children, but Jesus gets the glory, what have I to say about that? All I am here to do is to share the benefits of homeschooling from the get-go and hope folks take my advice. I have nothing to say to parents who decide against homeschooling that the Lord will not deal with later on if he doesn‘t get the glory. Be assured, homeschooler or not, we WILL be judged for our actions.

“To actuate an idea for a noble cause is not as noble as to follow a great leader; our leader being the Lord Jesus himself.”

(By the way…has someone already coined that phrase, because if not, I claim it! J )

This entry was posted on October 30, 2010 at 00:36 and is filed under standardized testing, prayer, homeschooling. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.

4 Responses to “GED’s - to take or not to take”

  1. Shannon Wells says:
    October 30, 2010 at 06:50

    This is a good post, Peggy. :) And, I’ll add my 2 cents in. If a child, growing up in a home school family feels God calling him or her to be a doctor, lawyer, or plans to go in to another profession, they had better get a GED or pass those ACT and SAT’s to get in to the university. I home school and I believe it is right for us. i know i am in the Lord’s will as a home school mom, but it is not for everyone, and I don’t believe that it is God’s will for everyone. I have a friend who is a Christian. I believe her calling is to be a teacher at the WV school for the blind. She is a wonderful teacher and loves those kids like you wouldn’t believe. She had 2 daughters, both of whom went to public school. These 2 ladies now are working in ministry, one in music at her church and the other at a Christian camp working with youth. So, home school, the lady felt, was not what God wanted for her and her children. We are to be a peculiar people, yes, but Jesus, even though he was strange to others, ate with sinners. Jesus did normal everyday things, visited with normal everyday folks and yet did it without sin. So, I think we are to do the same. And, something I never thought of until now, Jesus had a profession before He went in to His ministry; He was a carpenter. He built things and sold them. I’m sure Joseph by that time was getting on in years. Back then, working so hard, folks aged quicker than now, after all. So, Jesus dealt witht the public, possibly made contracts for jobs to be done. He probably had to pass a test or 2 inorder for Joseph to feel he could leave Him to do a job on His own. There may not have been a standardize test back then, but Jesus didn’t say, “Well, I’m special, so therefore, I didn’t need to deal with the folks of this world.” Just my 2 cents. :)

  2. Susan Watson says:
    November 4, 2010 at 22:39

    I really like this post! It’s something to think about. We are able to get a diploma through our accountability association in SC but understand that each state/situation is different.

  3. Anthony Setty says:
    January 13, 2012 at 22:27

    I would like to say that Im a GED kid. With that being said I have a couple opinions based on my experience.
    GED stands for General Education Diploma. It is my understanding that (Ohio in my case) has given me a diploma because they tested me and figured out I was just as smart if not smarter than Ohio’s average 12th grader.
    On the down side of things… Yes, people that know this about me on a personal level love making crakes like “oh, you have one of those ‘Good Enough Diplomas’”. Other than the occasion joke (from people that don’t matter) I have NEVER ran into any issues being a “GED kid”.
    My college, Full Sail University http://www.fullsail.edu/ , did not require a SAT or ACT but they DID require a “high school diploma or equivalent”. They, as a result, DO recognize the GED. Im actually enjoying a scholarship to one of the top 5 universities in my chosen industry and did it with GED. So, parents, DO NOT let any one convince you that a GED is not enough. My student ID is proof that it is.
    The local college in my town (Tennessee Tech university) DOES require BOTH “high school diploma or equivalent” AND an ACT test. You don’t have both then too bad.
    A friend of mine goes to a school that required an SAT but could care less if he finished high school or not (he didn’t). However, this is a community college and the difference between community colleges and universities is huge in the eyes of employers. They are two different things all together.
    I said that to say this: Depending on where your child want to attend school (if at all) they will have certain requirements to meet. Consider those as you choose their high school education. Which will be best for the child? Which will get the child the most/best opportunities? Plan for college while homeschooling! Oh, and UTC (University Of Tennessee at Chattanooga) will require certain “credits” in certain classes in order to attend. I was given a letter of denial by there admissions department because I had no credits in a foreign language class and lacked one credit in Algebra.
    Different school have different requirements so consider that is all I’m saying.
    Now off to homeschooling as a whole…
    Home schooling has its pro’s and con’s just like public school (although its a lot more pros and a lot less cons). At this point I feel I need to “give honor to whom honor is due”! If you are homeschooling DO IT LIKE PEGGY AND RON! All 3 of there children are smarter than me AND half of my professors in college. These kids are scary smart! Last time I was with them (at an air force museum) there youngest son was TEACHING ME things. Thats homeschooling done RIGHT! My “mental capacity” is down right embarrassing compared to all three of them and Im on an academic scholarship and run my own successful company. Peggy deserves an applause!!!
    In the other hand I personally know an 18 year old young lady up in Ohio (Ron and Peggy know her but I won’t say which one she is) that is currently in the 4th grade in her homeschooling. Her older sister recently got married and her husband had to help her fill out job applications because she didn’t understand the forms. This is PATHETIC! This girls mom (the one at the 4th grade level) paid a baby sitter to take the high school achievement test on the girls behalf (per the older sister).
    I said that to say this: PARENTS, HOMESCHOOLING IT WAHT YOU MAKE IT FOR YOUR CHILDREN. If your going to take this burden on then TAKE IT ON and dont rase a group of retards in Jesus name! Your children are going to be out on there own one day and they DESERVE to be smatter than the rest.
    Only issue I’ve personally ran into as a homeschooler: Culture Shock! I was blessed enough to have a mom like Peggy so when I finished school I was smarter academically than any high school grad. I could dance circle around these kids academically speaking. Actually, walk into any Mcdonalds, or Taco Bell and pay attention to the employees. The public School system should be embarrassed of itself. If I rase my daughter to be as dumb as the average public school student then I failed as a parent. Some of these kids can’t even read or multiply!
    BUT!!! No matter how much you shelter and protect a child one day they will be out in society. It took me a long time (and a couple wasted job positions) to finally figure out how to interact with the “secular” industry. My communication skills and personalty down right sucked. It wasn’t because I wasn’t smart enough for the job (more often than not I was too smart of the position) it was because I didn’t know how to interact with the other 18-25 year olds that grew up differently. I really don’t know exactly how to describe this or what the right words to use to explain myself are, but may I say this: Part of educating your child IS preparing them for the world! I missed that part and it cost me dearly at the beginning.
    Because of this I do plan on sending my daughter to public school BUT there will be plenty of “fixing it” when she gets home every day. I want her to have the social experience (both the good AND the bad) so she will know what to expect when she moves out. BUT you best belief that stupid evolution trash will not fly in my house! I know its going to be a long 12 year battle with the public school system but it a battle Im willing to take on. My daughter will have a public school education BUT her mommy and daddy will be the ones that make her smart. That way she has brains AND social experience. Does that make since?

  4. admin says:
    January 17, 2012 at 10:11

    Thanks for your input, Tony, and thanks for the kudos. Only one thing I caution you about - the curriculum in public schools is the least of your worries. It’s the attitudes and undertones of the ‘us against them’ that should be your main concern. If a child is taught at home that evolution is bogus, that’s great! However, when they go to school for more time than they are home, their friends who are not taught that evolution is bogus gain the upper hand and Daddy and Mommy become the morons. Proceed with caution ;) When my kids were about 10, 8 and 5 I gave them the “team talk” lol. I explained to them that we were a family and that was the best club to ever be in. I told them that others would try and get them to be on their team, but that we were their bestest friends ever. I guess it worked! LOL Praise God!!!!

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