Malika has an opinion about Delaware’s use of the three tiered diploma system. The three tiered diploma is used by Delaware to show those who graduated high school, rating them as basic, standard and distinguished.

High school diploma should be the same for everybody
I am against having a two-tier or three-tier diploma. It sends the wrong message to students. I also think it will have a negative impact on the black community. Everyone should get the same diploma at graduation. No one should get the impression that they are smarter than the next individual because they got a higher diploma. This is not right nor fair to students working hard just to make through high school. Some people struggle just to make passing grades. Stress is added by distinguished, standard and basic diplomas. These students should be treated equally, not humiliated because another person scored higher on the state tests. Some students don’t do well under pressure when taking a test, but do well in class and maintain good grades throughout the school year. Why should we separate the fortunate students from the less fortunate? The next thing, employers will require that a person has a distinguished diploma to get a job. A diploma means that the person completed four years of high school and maintained the average necessary to graduate. Malika K. Lively, Wilmington

Hi Malika. I am the clue train. I am going to run over you right now.
What is the wrong message to students? That those who barely do enough to get by deserve all the same priveledges as those who really worked hard to get A grades? That someone who pulled C’s and D’s should be a valedictorian, so as not to harm their precious little sensibilities?
Ahhh, so now it is a bad impact on the black community. Because you are saying that black students are incapable of working hard and getting good grades? Wow, I was under the impression that the black students were equally capable of getting A’s. I did not know that the color of your skin automatically took a certain number of points off your tests and homework. Is that what they’re teaching in education schools now?
Not right or fair to students working hard? You know what? If you are working hard to just get a diploma, you should feel good about getting a diploma. I think that after 4 years of high school, even the not so intelligent students would have an idea who the “smart kids” were. And you know what? I didn’t graduate top tier in my high school. I did not work that hard. But I am glad that the students who did get a 4.0 had something extra special to show for it. It is rewarding excellence, not mediocrity.
You’re worried about stress? My god girl, you’re going to just explode when it comes time for your first job interview and you’re up against 50 other people.
And why would you be humiliated that someone else scored higher on tests? Guess what? Someone out there is always going to do better than you. Welcome to one of life’s lessons. There is ALWAYS someone better than you, but that should not change what you do. The only person you ever truly compete against is yourself. If you don’t do well on this standardized test, guess what? Study harder, learn more, and retake the test. That is built into the system. The students are treated equally, they are all given the same test.
As for some students not doing well on tests. This is always a funny one. Life is a series of tests. Every day you are tested. You should learn to do better on tests. Unless you are so prejudiced that you believe that people can’t learn to do better.
Employers requiring an advanced diploma? Well, for some jobs, that may be a good thing. Scenario: Your mother has cancer. Which doctor do you want to treat her? The one that has the advanced degrees from top schools? Or the one who barely scored high enough to graduate the Costa Rican Medical and Circus Performer College?
So Malika, let me ask you this. If everyone out there always received the same awards, no matter how much effort you did, what would it be? Ahh, that’s right, you’d be a communist. And if you paid any attention in history class, you’d know that communism has failed, because it does not reward excellence. Why would anyone work harder than the next guy if they aren’t rewarded for it?
The obvious extention of what you are asking for is that college admissions may no longer look at transcripts or anything else than did the student graduate high school, yes or no. The only requirement for a job is that you graduated high school, yes or do. The only requirement for a surgeon operating on your mom is did you graduate high school, yes or no. Anything else is unfair.

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