TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG/Gray News) – The Toledo Public Schools system recently informed a woman in Ohio she never actually graduated high school when she received her diploma in 2007.
Victoria Tatum lost the hard copy of her diploma in a natural disaster but said she still has a blurry picture of it from the graduation ceremony.
She only learned it wasn’t valid after trying to apply for some college classes.
“It’s like a slap in the face for my mom and dad because she worked hard to get her kids to graduate. That was her one dying wish before she left this earth,” Tatum said.
Tatum said the school system claims it has no records stating she was part of any graduation ceremony.
They did, however, have records showing she was half a credit short from graduation – which isn’t good enough for any college Tatum said she’s hoping to attend.
“It’s not my fault. I did nothing but come to school, learn, get my diploma, and go off to college to better myself,” Tatum said. “I want to continue to better myself, but they’re holding me back, and I don’t appreciate that. I don’t and I need them to fix that.”
She said the school district suggested Tatum get her GED, but she does not think that is fair. Tatum is hoping this can somehow get resolved soon and she can move on with her life.
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Cowboywizzard on August 16th, 2023 at 16:28 UTC »
Yeah, the school needs to admit they may have screwed up and give her the benefit of the doubt (especially since she has a photo of her diploma) and just correct their records to show she graduated. Their lack of good record keeping shouldn't penalize a student who did at least 99% of what she was supposed to do 16 years ago, even if she somehow is a half credit shy. Telling her to get a GED is unacceptable and scummy for a school that exists to educate and promote student success. I bet very few if any staff that were at that school 16 years ago are still there, anyway. What do they have to lose?
pomonamike on August 16th, 2023 at 15:56 UTC »
I transferred universities and when I was filing my paperwork to graduate with my BA I was told that I needed 0.33 units short for PE because they calculated wrong from a quarter school to a semester school. They wanted to delay my graduation and make me take a 1 unit gym class.
I had literally already been accepted to grad school and was going to move across country in just a few weeks.
Fortunately I was able to take a half unit open gym “class” at a local community college. I think I had to log like 10 workouts and it cost me $100 instead of the $3000 my university wanted to charge me (and delay/ jeopardize my grad school plans).
majungo on August 16th, 2023 at 15:50 UTC »
Hasn't everyone had this dream before?