SK> -> *1   GED BROUHAHA:  SHOULD IT SERVE AS H.S. EXIT EXAM IN MASS.?
SK> ->    Of the three, the GED proposal has encountered the most
SK> -> controversy -- so much so that Gov. William Weld (R) and state
SK> -> Board of Education chairman John Silber have proposed a
SK> -> compromise plan.  Some educators complained that the GED sets too 
SK> low
SK> -> a standard for graduating seniors.  
    To put it mildly, the GED is a ridiculously low standard for graduation.
    National research has already shown that employers have so little 
confidence in the GED that HS dropouts who pass it average no higher earnings 
than those who never took it.  How can anyone expect employers to think a HS 
diploma means more just because the graduate also passed the GED in light of 
that?
SK> -> month, writes the paper.  The new proposal would require all high
SK> -> school seniors to take the test next spring, but would wait until
SK> -> 1999 to withhold diplomas for those who cannot pass the
SK> -> test.  Rather than deny students a diploma, "Failed GED" would be
SK> -> stamped on the diplomas of students unable to pass the test.
SK> ->    According to the paper, Weld said the compromise would "get
SK> -> a source of pressure into the mix as soon as possible" while
SK> -> creating "a middle ground between making the GED a condition of
SK> -> graduation this year, and not having any consequences
SK> -> whatsoever."  He also surmised that "If I were a graduating
SK> -> senior, I would not want 'Failed GED' on my diploma.  
    "Failed GED" stamped on a kid's diploma is irrelevant when so few 
employers ever see the diploma or ask for a transcript.
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