It’s in our DNA

Over the past decade, students in Finland have soared on international measures of achievement. They’ve continued to post some of the best scores in the developed world in reading, math and science, according to a respected international exam. The country has one of the narrowest gaps in achievement between its highest and lowest-performing schools, and on average spends less per pupil than the United States.

The country’s education system has come to be regarded as one of the highest-performing in the world, and a growing number of foreigners are trying to figure out if and how they can emulate it.  Wisconsin is trying to reshape teaching and learning by developing new teacher evaluation systems, a new school accountability system, more useful professional development and better outcomes for kids, all with fewer dollars than in previous years.

Wisconsin’s government and demographics differ from Finland in many ways, but there are still lessons to be learned from the steps this northern European nation has taken to better serve all students and educators, including:

• Improving teacher recruitment and training at colleges of education.

• Offering a high-quality curriculum with pathways to high-quality vocational training at younger grades.

• Emphasizing play and the arts in education.

Several recent studies have sought to slice international achievement data in new ways. Adjusting for the differences in state, national and international tests, one report shows 56% of Finland’s students perform at or above a level considered to be proficient in math, compared with 36% of the students in Wisconsin and 32% of U.S. students on average.

But looking at the Finnish system comes with caveats—some characteristics of the country head in the opposite direction from the way things are moving in American education.

• Finnish education leaders downplay standardized testing
• They place more value on developing creativity and independent thought

Finland is a far more homogenous population than the US and although some schools in Finland do serve a predominantly low-income population, and the pace of instruction at those schools is indeed slower than at the schools in middle-income areas. But the low-income schools are supported in other ways to try to give all students the tools needed to reach a basic level of education by the end of ninth grade.

Teacher Training

Finland has been praised for the way in which it attracts, and subsequently develops, future teachers.  Admission to education schools are competitive and typically only admit about 7% of applicants.

Once they become a teacher, they are paid less than their US counterparts but teachers have a lot of autonomy over their classroom.

Play, Social Development

Real academic learning doesn’t take place until compulsory schooling starts in first grade. And even then, days for students include an emphasis on social skills and development. Being outside is also important—children of all ages play before, during and after school.

America has the right DNA for a phenomenal education system, so how do we get there?

The movie , Finland Phenomenon, will be shown at Oregon Episcopal School:
Monday, January 30, 2012
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

RSVP:  Westona {at} oes(.)edu