Learning from Finland

I really enjoyed this article about Finland because it pointed out some of the key inadequacies in American education, and methods of improving them. My favorite part of the article, of course, was the part about standardized testing. In Finland they don’t have standardized tests. There, rather than having standardized tests determine the “success” of a school, its standing in comparison with other schools, and the teachers’ ability to do their jobs, these things are based on input from students, teachers, administrators, and parents. This makes sense! How can people who are not directly involved in individual communities and school districts formulate a test which can accurately determine the success of the community and the people who are directly involved. Standardized tests are by no means standardized. A student’s ability to do well on a test relies on innumerable factors which fall outside the realm of test makers’ microscopic perspective of “education”. As I’ve learned, education is not just about facts and knowledge, but also about the social environment in which the student/ test taker lives. Only members of the community (and maybe not even they) can properly assess the social aspect of education which exists in their district and which plays an enormous role in the abilities of students.

Another thing that I really loved about the article was the emphasis on equity. Making sure that education is available and equitable for students at every socio-economic level is of the utmost importance and should be the goal of every national and state education program. In the U.S. education and socio-economic level are directly correlated: the higher the social class the higher the level of education and the better the quality of education. Parents shouldn't have to send their kids to private schools in order for them to be adequately educated. As they said in the article, education shouldn’t be a matter of choice. It should be something afforded to every member of the society. It should be absolute.

Finally, I really loved the fact that in Finland teachers are truly appreciated, and recognized as professionals who provide an irrefutable and immeasurable service to the community in the same way that doctors do. The fact that teachers are required to have higher-level degrees shows their appreciation and commitment to educating their kids. Teachers are not just glorified babysitters, they have a true purpose. In America, teachers are looked down upon and are often not well-educated themselves; all of which only adds to the mal-perspective students, teachers, and parents have on education.

Overall, America, especially Mississippi, can learn a lot from Finland.