If teachers in Finland are paid about the same, but the profession is much more competitive, I'm curious why. And if the answer seems to be that they have much more academic freedom - fewer standardized tests, etc - I'm thinking HA, no doubt! And it does not surprise me to learn that coming from that environment, kids in Finland are significantly outscoring their American counterparts on the very standardized tests they don't value so much.
Say what?
A recent Wall Street Journal article explains that Finnish students finished first in science & near the top in math and reading because of a formula that is simple, but not easy: "Well-trained teachers and responsible children. Early on, kids do a lot without adults hovering. And teachers create lessons to fit their students. "We don't have oil or other riches. Knowledge is the thing Finnish people have," says Hannele Frantsi, a school principal."
The creators of the international test commented on Finland's success: "Finnish teachers pick books and customize lessons as they shape students to national standards. "In most countries, education feels like a car factory. In Finland, the teachers are the entrepreneurs," says Mr. Schleicher, of the Paris-based OECD, which began the international student test in 2000."
Consider where America might be right now if the Bush administration had invested all that $$ in teacher training, rather than testing...!
An interesting cultural contributor is that English TV shows have Finnish subtitles, not dubbing, so in order to enjoy their favorite shows, students must be good readers. Hmm... how can we replicate that?
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