As we have previously discussed in class Finland has a superb education system that many countries envy. This BBC clip titled “Finland’sEducation Success” gives viewers a day in the life of a Finnish family during a school day. Finland expects quality education for its students and value education in the highest regard. As mentioned in this clip “less can be more” when it comes to Finnish schools, starting with the fact Finnish children do not start school until age seven. First rule of Finnish schools; “relax, take your shoes off when you arrive”. Students are encouraged to call their teachers by their first name and these teachers stay with them for most of their school life. Teachers are able to grow up with their students and know what is best for each student…almost like being their “school mother”.
Students by the age of thirteen have already learned three or four languages. Each classroom focuses on success not winners and losers. Students act as a “team” and help each other out. There can be several teachers in one classroom. One teacher may specifically be assigned to those students who need a bit of extra help in a particular subject. By having all teachers have their Master’s degree students are learning from the best. Math, science and technology are taught at a high level so businesses know what to expect with the next upcoming workforce. Finland believes there is “still room for improvement” in regards to students with special needs or students with special talents. By focusing on these students, teachers are able to help them reach their full potential.
Remarkably, Finnish students do the least number of hours in the classroom but have the best results. And these high results are seen in every school in Finland, no student is being left behind and there is no competition between schools in places like the United States and Canada. Every student in Finland is receiving the same opportunity in school and is able to receive the help they need from teachers and their family. Families are encouraged to be a huge support to students in Finland especially by teaching their children in the first seven years at home. The main reason for success in Finland is the government trusts the schools to make the right choices and they stay out of the schools. This reminded me of a Simons andMasschelein (2008) quote “within the social rationality of governing, education thus became a governmental concern, and the national government started to think of itself as being responsible for governing the relation between “education” and “society” (p. 395). Finnish government is not the case. Also, by the schools trusting the students to use the resources they are granted with. I love reading stories about the education system in Finland. It actually gives me hope that education is not dying. Students, teachers and parents work together to create the best education for the country. Without education how do individuals expect to have good jobs without the proper education behind it? I hope other countries start to look at the Finnish school system and see how there are more benefits.
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