The GED gives them confidence in their job

 

 

One-third of high school students do not get their high school diploma, and that's not just in Halifax County, but throughout much of the nation. Worse yet, 40 to 60 percent of Halifax County adults do not have a high school diploma and that's what Avaris N. Terry, Chief Examiner for the GED Testing Center, is concerned about.

Yesterday Terry hosted the GED Empowered Outreach Luncheon during which she introduced successful adults who have recently received their GED, as well as sponsors of the educational program. One GED recipient, 61

year old Yvonne Carter, who works as a security guard at Dollar General in the Halifax Industrial Park, said she started her journey to get her GED in 1998, but "life seemed to keep getting in the way. But," she says, "when I saw the mobile (GED testing) lab in the parking lot, I was determined to do it this time and walk down the graduation aisle." And she did just that, as did four other employees of Dollar General. Dollar General's Hank Bruining said the mobile testing lab at his facility is open to employees of all the local industries and he welcomes their participation. He noted that one of his recent hires had started the GED testing program in the evening of the first day he was

employed. Statistics show that GED recipients average making $7,000 more annually than do those who do not obtain a GED or a high school diploma. "The GED gives them confidence in their job," said Jeff Shrader of the

Virginia Department of Transportation. Over the past five years of the program Terry said her group has

identified 4,600 local adults who finished below the ninth grade level of study. Of that number only 600 have received their GEDs. The local program has ten testing centers, one of which is at the W.W. Moore Juvenile Detention Center in Danville where Halifax County at-risk youth, along with others from Patrick, Henry, Franklin,

Pittsylvania, Mecklenburg and Lunenburg counties and the cities of Danville and Martinsville are often held following violations of the law. Since October of 2006 18 youth there have taken the GED tests  with all passing except one. "This has been a wonderful program for us," said Jane Clardy, a teacher at the Center. She noted that for youth who have a hard time adjusting in the traditional classroom, the program helps them to build self esteem. One of her students finished the GED program quickly, she said, and has now moved onto completion of the CNA program.

Don Bagwell of The Brotherhood of St. Andrew, who along with other members of his group, Bill Confroy and Eddie Bratton, talked about how much the program means to the inmates at the Blue Ridge Regional Jail

where the program has lapsed but will be re-instated soon. Brotherhood members meet twice each month, counseling with local inmates, and they consider the GED program "a real advantage for the prisoners. These

people really want it," Bagwell told those gathered for the luncheon.. Another major testing center is at the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center where Terry said participants "seem to feel really comfortable. There's no stigma attached to being seen there, since one could be at the Higher Ed Center for many purposes," she added.

Another center is located at the National Guard Armory. Interestingly, it was the  military which instituted the program back in 1942 for personnel who had been drafted before they could finish their schooling. It was not until 1969-70 that the program was opened for non-military persons. Other testing centers are located at Danville

Community College and Southside Virginia Community College. Despite her stories of success, Terry still worries about the large number of adults who do not have a GED or a high school diploma. Looking at fair data maps across the country, she notes the story is much the same all over with states struggling to expand the GED program

to provide a culture of education for everyone.   Several years ago she conducted a survey to try and understand the

high drop-out rate. Several reasons were listed: no interest in school subjects; no motivation to succeed, need to get a job, and the necessity of working to take care of their families. She listed the reasons for people not taking the GED classes as: their inability to pay the testing fee of $35 (of which Wal-Mart has now donated $1,000

for testing vouchers); the location of the testing centers; no transportation; a conflict with work schedule; lack of child care and lack of motivation. Yesterday's meeting was sponsored by Italian Delight where it was held and by Coldwell Banker-Powell Realty, All-Pro Carpet, South Boston Speedway, J.E. Burton Construction Company, Inc., Cherokee Tobacco LLC, Terry's Tax, Climate Control, Inc. Franklin's Garage and WHLF 95.3 FM

with a special thanks to Billy Reagan.