Finland has become an international model for public
education over the past ten years. Once
an average educational system, it now consistently ranks in the top three on
the international charts. The Finnish
transformation has not included standardized tests, competition for
private and charter schools, or longer school days. One of the their secrets to success cites
Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson spoke and
wrote about “equality of educational opportunity.”
Pasi Sahlberg, Finland’s renowned educator and author of Finnish Lessons, spoke at a lecture
recently at the University of Hawaii. In
January, he will be visiting Harvard’s Graduate School of Education to share
the way in which the Finnish system operates.
The Finnish model shows that as when we focus on equality, excellence
follows.
In Finland, children do not receive grades until fifth
grade. “Too much unhealthy competition,”
Sahlberg states. Collaboration is the
primary focus. The same collaboration
that 21st century skills, Whole Child education, and Social
Emotional Learning emphasize.
Sahlberg says, “Children should be learning because they
want to learn and understand.” We need
to re-emphasize our ability to inspire learning. In the past ten years with the oppression of
standardized tests, we have lost the ability to have a balanced
curriculum. Many schools have deleted or
reduced arts, music, and in some elementary schools, recess.
The United States once led the world in creativity and
innovation. Standardization of tests and
curriculum continues to produce low academic performance and a negative impact
on creativity, innovation, and general health.
A sampling of the Finnish research is as follows:
- Daycare is available to all.
- Schools provide comprehensive health services and nutritional lunches.
- Education is free from pre-school to University.
- Teaching is a highly respected profession. It is an intense, competitive career track. All teachers earn Master’s Degrees.
- Schools and teachers have autonomy.
Our issues and concerns are not educational. We do not need to “fix” education. Our issues are poverty, inequality,
addictions, mental health concerns, violence, and political oppression. Where there is poverty and inequality, there
will always be pain. Our answers are
Whole Child education, Social Emotional Learning, and 21st Century
Skills – Human teaching for human learning.
