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...
It's not rocket science
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?
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
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