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It’s Time to Do Away With High School Diplomas
They mean little, and there are better alternatives
For most young people, the attainment of a high school diploma is the pinnacle of academic achievement. It represents the culmination of 12 years of study, dedication, and accomplishment. At the graduation ceremony, parents stand proud. Grandparents come from far away. Parties are held. Speeches are made. Tassels are flipped. Tears are shed. Students hug each other. Diplomas are handed out.
Question: What exactly does a high school diploma mean in the modern age?
Answer: Almost nothing.
The high school diploma, the holiest of sacred cows, has come to mean almost nothing, and it is time we recognized that and came up with another way to mark the transition into post-secondary and adult life. There is no guarantee whatsoever that a high school graduate can do mathematics, read or write at a very high level, or know anything about science. Let’s be honest. A good number of high school graduates each year skate by doing and learning the minimum, which isn’t very much. Many pass their courses with a D, which generally means either the teacher passed them on sympathy, or else the teacher did not want to have them repeat their class. In either event, the level of knowledge is minimal at best.
