TCH News

Issue date: 12/17/07 Section: News

"You had your chance … you will amount to nothing … it's too late to go back … if you couldn't finish high school, you'll never make it." Unfortunately, these are some of the degrading phrases thrown in the face of high school dropouts.

Fortunately, at the SCCC Learning Center, degrading phrases are replaced with affirmative statements like, "It's never too late." In fact that approach has been so successful that the college's Testing Center recently was honored by the New Jersey Department of Education, receiving the First Place award in the category of "Highest Pass Rate for General Education Development (GED) Testing Centers" in New Jersey during 2006.

According to NJ.com, a report released in October by researchers at John Hopkins University found that in one out of 10 high schools in the nation, fewer than 60 percent of the students who start as freshmen end up finishing their senior year. With Dropout rates rising (for whatever reason) while boards of education look into keeping kids in school, it is also important for programs such as the GED to exist as another option.

"It's never too late to go back to school" and complete a GED program, explained Paula Lerch, SCCC's Testing Coordinator. "There are so many possibilities and so many options, you can find whatever your learning style is," she said.

There are numerous untruths regarding the GED programs that are waiting to be proven wrong, Lerch explained. "There is a huge difference in attitude [leading to] a tremendous sense of excitement and self confidence. People finally realize [they] can do this. It creates a great sense of self worth."

"It [GED program] isn't easy; however, there are many ways to be taught and to be successful," Lerch explained in response to those who think they could never make the transition into being a student again. "Find the right program; seek advice from more than one source."

When an individual enters SCCC"s GED or ABE (Adult Basic Education) program, "We help to boost confidence," said Dave Smith, ABE-GED Consortium Specialist. "We do not say 'can't' here."

Kathleen Carr, previously a testing administrator and currently a specialist with the ABE-GED Consortium, explained, "We offer a very unique program, and you see a desire to keep learning.

"It is never too late."

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