"College Isn't for Me": An Ethnographic Exploration of Educational Experiences of Black Males in a GED Program

• In Event: 46.070 - Experiences of African American Males in Education

Abstract

Black males are more likely than others to attend alternative education programs and schools (McCall, 2003; Howard, 2008). Alternative high schools and programs tend to serve a disproportionate number of male students, students of color, at risk students, and economically disadvantaged students (McNulty & Roseboro, 2009; Watson, 2011). A significant number of Black male students will pursue the GED credential in these programs. This ethnographic study focuses on Black male students who have dropped out of traditional high school prior to attending a GED program in a Northeastern city. This study addresses the following questions: How do Black males’ perceptions of caring and educational experiences in an alternative GED program differ from experiences in their former traditional high school?

Author

• Julia Camille Ransom, Temple University