A book I read over Winter Break was Finnish Lessons by Pasi Sahlberg, who is considered the preeminent expert on Finland’s educational system. He devotes much of his time to hosting tours of Finnish schools and lecturing about Finland in other countries.
This book was not the easiest read, but it successfully highlighted how different the Finnish educational system is compared to others', particularly the U.S.
The Finnish educational system for the past few years has been an international “rock star” because A. its reforms are so contrary from most other countries' ideas at improving education and B. because of its very high student scores in reading, math and science literacy on the international PISA standardized test. (PISA stands for Programme for International Student Assessment and is given 15-year-olds in many countries. The test asks students not only to recall content learned but to apply that knowledge through problem solving. Click for some sample questions on the PISA test.)
Finland’s success was also touted in the recent documentary Waiting for Superman.
Finland dramatically changed its educational system a generation ago and did so in a very different direction compared to other countries—like the U.S. Sahlberg refers to other countries as the Global Educational Reform Movement, which typically stresses the following:
This book was not the easiest read, but it successfully highlighted how different the Finnish educational system is compared to others', particularly the U.S.
The Finnish educational system for the past few years has been an international “rock star” because A. its reforms are so contrary from most other countries' ideas at improving education and B. because of its very high student scores in reading, math and science literacy on the international PISA standardized test. (PISA stands for Programme for International Student Assessment and is given 15-year-olds in many countries. The test asks students not only to recall content learned but to apply that knowledge through problem solving. Click for some sample questions on the PISA test.)
Finland’s success was also touted in the recent documentary Waiting for Superman.
Finland dramatically changed its educational system a generation ago and did so in a very different direction compared to other countries—like the U.S. Sahlberg refers to other countries as the Global Educational Reform Movement, which typically stresses the following:
- Competition and choice, e.g., vouchers, charter schools, private schools
- Standardization of teaching and learning, e.g., academic standards like Common Core
- Test-based accountability, e.g., standardized tests and state end of course assessments
- Merit-based pay for teachers
This is basically what the Unites States has done for the past number of years with limited success in improving student outcomes.
How is Finland different?
All education is public. There are no private schools, including no private colleges and universities. Hence, everyone’s education (from food to classroom supplies) is paid through public monies.
Little quantitative measurement (standardized testing) of students. As Sahlberg states, “We prepare children to learn how to learn, not how to take a test.”
While teachers are not necessarily highly compensated, teaching is a respected and highly-sought profession. Typically one in ten applicants are accepted in college as education majors and before one gets to teach, he/she must earn a masters degree.
Teachers and schools have a high degree of autonomy. While America does not have a national curriculum (like a country like Japan), state and national standardized tests and academic standards (like Common Core) have led to many schools teaching to the test. In Finland each grade’s math goals easily fit onto one piece of paper. Finnish teachers are not rushed to cover material but have ample class time to help their students truly understand.
Every child is known. Schools are small. Elementary school teachers often teach students for multiple years. Much emphasis is placed on early identification, intervention, and remediation of learning difficulties.
Students receive very little homework. The school day includes ample time for recess and creative play. Emphasis is on conceptual understanding. Classes are not ability grouped.
I hope as you read the above, you recognized that these "reforms" are common characteristics most progressive (and often private) schools in America have provided for more than 100 years.
Many counter that while Finland has been successful in its reforms, it is so different from America, that we really can't learn much from its system of education. After all, its has a fairly homogeneous population of 5 million while we have a very diverse population of more than 300 million.
As I read the book, though, I kept thinking that the real difference between Finland and the U.S. in Finland’s premise of the goal of education: commitment to equity, i.e., equal educational opportunity for all students.
The American system of education is based much more on competition. We believe that through student hard work and scaffolding to support and challenge a child (like tutors and private schools) he/she will succeed and surpass his/her competition, i.e., other students.
In Finland, there are no lists of best schools or teachers in Finland as is common in America. Educational policy is based on cooperation between teachers, schools, and students, not competition.
Finland is somewhat embarrassed by its high test scores. The goal of its educational reform movement a generation ago after all was not “excellence but equity” with every child having exactly the same opportunity to learn, regardless of family background or income. Great standardized test scores are a byproduct.
In Finland, education is not a means to produce star performers but means to even out social inequality.
Interestingly, Finland's neighbor Norway has an educational system similar to America’s and its student scores on PISA are in the middle of the pact like the U.S. However, South Korea and Singapore, which have an educational system that is much more drill-heavy, competitive, and content based, score very high on PISA.
I don’t think the U.S. public school system will ever move from competition to equity. We seem rooted to the idea that competition will strengthen the overall education system, hence making schools better for all.
But I do feel that the characteristics of the Finnish educational system are just like the ones progressive schools in the U.S. espouse.
And, most important, these are the qualities that best benefit and engage students---and provide them not just content and knowledge but opportunities to apply that knowledge.
How is Finland different?
All education is public. There are no private schools, including no private colleges and universities. Hence, everyone’s education (from food to classroom supplies) is paid through public monies.
Little quantitative measurement (standardized testing) of students. As Sahlberg states, “We prepare children to learn how to learn, not how to take a test.”
While teachers are not necessarily highly compensated, teaching is a respected and highly-sought profession. Typically one in ten applicants are accepted in college as education majors and before one gets to teach, he/she must earn a masters degree.
Teachers and schools have a high degree of autonomy. While America does not have a national curriculum (like a country like Japan), state and national standardized tests and academic standards (like Common Core) have led to many schools teaching to the test. In Finland each grade’s math goals easily fit onto one piece of paper. Finnish teachers are not rushed to cover material but have ample class time to help their students truly understand.
Every child is known. Schools are small. Elementary school teachers often teach students for multiple years. Much emphasis is placed on early identification, intervention, and remediation of learning difficulties.
Students receive very little homework. The school day includes ample time for recess and creative play. Emphasis is on conceptual understanding. Classes are not ability grouped.
I hope as you read the above, you recognized that these "reforms" are common characteristics most progressive (and often private) schools in America have provided for more than 100 years.
Many counter that while Finland has been successful in its reforms, it is so different from America, that we really can't learn much from its system of education. After all, its has a fairly homogeneous population of 5 million while we have a very diverse population of more than 300 million.
As I read the book, though, I kept thinking that the real difference between Finland and the U.S. in Finland’s premise of the goal of education: commitment to equity, i.e., equal educational opportunity for all students.
The American system of education is based much more on competition. We believe that through student hard work and scaffolding to support and challenge a child (like tutors and private schools) he/she will succeed and surpass his/her competition, i.e., other students.
In Finland, there are no lists of best schools or teachers in Finland as is common in America. Educational policy is based on cooperation between teachers, schools, and students, not competition.
Finland is somewhat embarrassed by its high test scores. The goal of its educational reform movement a generation ago after all was not “excellence but equity” with every child having exactly the same opportunity to learn, regardless of family background or income. Great standardized test scores are a byproduct.
In Finland, education is not a means to produce star performers but means to even out social inequality.
Interestingly, Finland's neighbor Norway has an educational system similar to America’s and its student scores on PISA are in the middle of the pact like the U.S. However, South Korea and Singapore, which have an educational system that is much more drill-heavy, competitive, and content based, score very high on PISA.
I don’t think the U.S. public school system will ever move from competition to equity. We seem rooted to the idea that competition will strengthen the overall education system, hence making schools better for all.
But I do feel that the characteristics of the Finnish educational system are just like the ones progressive schools in the U.S. espouse.
And, most important, these are the qualities that best benefit and engage students---and provide them not just content and knowledge but opportunities to apply that knowledge.
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