By R. John Quisenberry
Lately, there is a legislator who is claiming that they are being bullied for having gotten a GED, rather than a more traditional education. There should never be shame for any way that a person has improved themselves. It is, however, not impressive when an adult, in their 30s has to take such a simple test four times to pass it. It also speaks to a lack of character when the person complaining is putting down people who went to college in the same breath.
I, myself graduated with a GED at the age of 16 because my principal considered high school a waste of my time. I went on to be accepted to a college with a full scholarship after passing the test on the first try.
While it is true that I have met many people who were truly stupid beyond the pale who held advanced degrees, they were not prone to quoting passages in the text of their chosen faith so poorly as to confuse a term for senseless killing for a binge on takeout. I have worked with PHDs who worked in a pizza place mopping floors. One can be an idiot with a degree and a genius with no education at all. The paper is always only a small part of proving intellect. If one acts the fool in public, the paper, no matter how elevated or debased, is meaningless.
At the end of the day, we need to treat people according to their actions, not their pedigrees.