Our grade 3 teacher, Susie Hart sent me her comments after we viewed the first part our study on Finnish Schools. You can comment under any post...
What makes Finland different?
It is about where the Finnish Powerful believe their investments should be
channeled.
In the video we heard that Finland has recognized that its only major export is
intelligence. I wonder where critical thinking would rank in America's list of
major exports? Or, in that of any industrialized nation where the majority
exports are objects? In manufacturing countries you really don't want to have a
nation of thinkers. You want, what we have, an industrialized vision of
education where everyone learns their small part and they learn to do it well,
over and over, without questioning it.
Singapore is another country which is seen as a beacon of learning. Why? Same
thing. What else do they have to offer? Why do Asian societies seem to have
such a higher level of respect for education? Because those countries that
don't already control all the other major world assets!
So how come China, as a major manufacturing player with plenty of assets, seems
to be doing so well academically too?
In my view it is because they can see the future and, instead of wanting to
jump in bed with the big guys or fight against them (aka the Cold War), they
want to take them on at their own game by creating a whole new hand of cards.
Is it really surprising that all the major players are beginning to pay
attention to the importance of learning in the 21st century? Of course not.
They, like Finland, Singapore and China know that industrial prosperity cannot
continue, at least not at the same pace. The future will require people to find
alternative sources of energy by working together across national boundaries.
None of this is rocket science. How does the "little guy" ever compete
with the "big, powerful, rich guy"? He outwits him - obviously.
The question remains, however, what can we learn (and apply) from Finland's
investment into its future generations?
International schools, especially the smaller, community schools, have a lot of
similarities with Finland's model. For the most part, I believe that we have
supportive, well-educated families, we have small classes sizes, we have
resources, we have flexibility in curriculum planning and assessment, we have
an open, intelligent and forward thinking group of educators, and we have
well-adjusted, responsive students.
Yay, for us!
Susie
