Why Finland is top worldwide in Education rankings

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go rent 'waiting for superman' and tell me if you think the American model is winning.

A good education, therefore, is not ruled out by poverty, uneducated parents or crime - and drug-infested neighborhoods. In fact, those are the very areas where Geoffrey Canada has success with his charter schools.

I love how two of the pps want to just remove our inner city and poor kids from our Education statistics. Sure. We'll just continue to ignore that population instead of reforming the education system itself.

I also wouldn't be so certain US would rise to the top by self-selecting a tiny population.

Geoffrey Canada has created an amazing and comprehensive program that begins in-utero! He's going to have success because he is will to address the fact that kids who live in poverty and crime ridden areas and have uneducated parents need a different model of education than kids who do not. He can propose such a message because the people he works with and hire, all look the same (per his book). And mainly, not white women.

As long as America values educating ALL people, we will appear to be lagging behind other countries. And as long as we are not able to address the different needs of all people, at the local level (I'm talking neighborhood, not just city) we may not see much in the way of successful education reform.

[Anonymous]

Children in Finland and France all seem to go to daycare without problem for extended hours. A sitter is unreliable and in addition costs more money than most upper class people can add on after paying for a good preschool. Most good full day daycare/preschools here costs over $20,000 and a sitter adds on an extra $5000 even for 1 hour a day at $20 per hour. Poor people can't even pay for a good preschool much less pay for two different daycare providers. What is needed is a good understanding of what children actually need and then the daycares and schools to actually carry this out. No more of just "playbased" or "Montessori" or "Waldorf" or "traditional" or whatever. We need good preschools and schools that are utilizing the best teaching methods wherever they come from. Finland seems to get this and offers lots of support to their teachers and doesn't overburden them with too many children, too little space, or too much paperwork.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Children in Finland and France all seem to go to daycare without problem for extended hours. A sitter is unreliable and in addition costs more money than most upper class people can add on after paying for a good preschool. Most good full day daycare/preschools here costs over $20,000 and a sitter adds on an extra $5000 even for 1 hour a day at $20 per hour. Poor people can't even pay for a good preschool much less pay for two different daycare providers. What is needed is a good understanding of what children actually need and then the daycares and schools to actually carry this out. No more of just "playbased" or "Montessori" or "Waldorf" or "traditional" or whatever. We need good preschools and schools that are utilizing the best teaching methods wherever they come from. Finland seems to get this and offers lots of support to their teachers and doesn't overburden them with too many children, too little space, or too much paperwork.

However, their mothers get up to a year off for maternity leave. In Sweden (I think Denmark too) it is 18 months of leave after a baby (fathers too!My friend in German said it is now over a year of leave over there (it might be guaranteed 60% of their pay). Of course, taxes are through the roof and they are 'high trust' societies.

[Anonymous]

And many of the countries are also going bankrupt because of it. I still think regardless of their subsidies, they have figured out a way to put children first in all of their schools. You don't hear about a set Finnish way of teaching because it's constantly evolving and the Finnish schools don't have brands like waldorf, catholic, progressive, outdoor, academic, etc. They provide a variety of experiences for children and teach to the whole child.

[Anonymous]

Hello you all, and regards from Finland!

I noticed this Forum by coincidence, but I hope I can clear some points made about the Schools in Finland. Before that I would like to say that I went to a US high school for a year (like many my friend here), so I have some (not in Elementary School) comparison.
I have three kids, age 10, 5 and 3. Only the oldest is in the school, younger ones are in daycare.

Okey,let's roll

"Finland does not give their kids standardized tests.
Individual schools have curriculum autonomy; individual teachers have classroom autonomy."

There are exams, but they are within one class (20-30 kids) only. So they are not meant to compare classes or even less schools with one another. Yes, schools have autonomy. And teachers. There are certain rules what to teach (European history in 4th grade, algebra 5th grade or so on. I made those examples up, but you get the point )

"It is not mandatory to give students grades until they are in the 8th grade.
All teachers are required to have a master's degree."

They give grades usually from the 3rd grade on. But again, you can't really compare those nation wide, more within one class. And yes, teachers have masters degree (also in the subject they teach), and they are respected.


"Finland does not have a culture of negative accountability for their teachers. According to Partanen, "bad" teachers receive more professional development; they are not threatened with being fired."

It strikes me how negative the media is in the US towards teachers. You don't get fired here until you really make a mess.


"Finland has a culture of collaboration between schools, not competition. Most schools, according to Partanen, perform at the same level, so there is no status in attending a particular facility. "

Yes, probably. Schools don't really compete. Mayby a bit in High School level, but not really even there

"Finland has no private schools.
Education emphasis is "equal opportunity to all."They value equality over excellence."


There are some schools that are independent (have their own curriculum), but no private schools.

"A much higher percentage of Finland's educational budget goes directly into the classroom than it does in the US, as administrators make approximately the same salary as teachers. This also makes Finland's education more affordable than it is in the US."


Education is basically free here, including lunch (of course - you have to feed your children well!)


"Finnish culture values childhood independence; one example: children mostly get themselves to school on their own, by walking or bicycling, etc. Helicopter parenting isn't really in their vocabulary. "

Yes, probably. My 10 year old is quite independent. But it is also safer here, at least mostly.

"Finnish schools don't assign homework, because it is assumed that mastery is attained in the classroom.
Finnish schools have sports, but no sports teams. Competition is not valued. "


We have homework! Mayby to that much (my daughter has about 30 minutes daily). ?
No school teams, but kids play during the break. There are lot's of breaks.
But there are teams for kids to do sports outside school, and they compete. Not maybe as much as in the US, but they do count goals

"The focus is on the individual child. If a child is falling behind, the highly trained teaching staff recognizes this need and immediately creates a plan to address the child's individual needs. Likewise, if a child is soaring ahead and bored, the staff is trained and prepared to appropriately address this as well"

Yes, they do try at least. And also succeed mostly.

Finally: I think the elementary school in Finland is excellent, high schools also pretty good. But University level is very good in the US (Finland also, but not many real top universities, some study abroad also).

What I like the most in Finnish elementary schools: Trust the school and teachers, give them independence.
Lot's of breaks and good food (the food in my US high school was a crime against the mankind - although I liked my school there otherwise )
Equality: All kids know that they can make it to a university rather easily. Or at least have good chance to do it.
Culture that supports learning - better media, less "hustle" all the time with everything, less pressure.

Now, I loved my time in the US, and still enjoy many thing American! I by no means want to "lecture", many things are not that good in Finland. But yes, the daycare-elementary school is MOSTLY good.

All the best; Jaakko from Helsinki, Finland

Sorry about the mistakes with grammar, etc.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Jaakko! It's fun that you came here and responded.

[Anonymous]

Finland: I like how they take care of their teachers. For some reason, our Conservative politicians and their followers have been attacking teachers in the U.S. But for that matter they attack science and intelligence too..

Top five were, South Korea, Finland, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore.

It's funny how many have left South Korea and settled in Fairfax County. Why? The public schools here. And most want to get into AAP too. Why? It's an avenue to success and possibly happiness.

[Anonymous]

Fairfax County public schools are much better than most places in the US. My kid's friend recently moved to Texas (Junior high) and said there were much less HW there...

[Anonymous]

I received my basic education from a rigorous program (similar to AAP) from one of the Asian countries. My children are receiving their K-12 education here. I like the Fairfax program better in most aspects. The only thing that is less here is math. The foundation is weaker and there is not enough repetition for kids to establish the chemical link between their nerves to make calculations automatic. I didn't realize this weakness for my first child and was always wondering why and how she could forgot what she learned and needed to learn it again later. The SAT general and SAT subject math tests really help consolidate the knowledge and make them stay.
For my second child, I don't emphasize for moving up when he got the concept. Instead, I give him alot of practices for simple facts. Right now he is solid and quick in math.
I love the elementary science curriculum here. They are fun and useful and my kids really enjoy them.
I don't know the Finland system but I do love the Fairfax system

[Anonymous]

Jaakko, I've read that Finnish children spend less time in school and don't have as many specials during the school day, but then also read that most women work over there. What do these children do afterschool? How does the family adapt to the Finnish School system differently than an American family would?

[Anonymous]

"Jaakko, I've read that Finnish children spend less time in school and don't have as many specials during the school day, but then also read that most women work over there. What do these children do afterschool? How does the family adapt to the Finnish School system differently than an American family would?"

With our daughter we made a group of her friend - four together - and when they got off school, they went to one of the homes of this group of friends. My wife got home about 1 pm once a week. The school ended about 1 pm, so that was the arrangement.

There are also after school "clubs" in the school. Organized by the local sport club, church or by parents "union/organisation".

Now our daughter is 10. She comes home about 1-2 pm by herself, with a friend, or goes to a friend. Eats something, does her homework, plays with the computer, etc. She is quite independent, sometimes we hardly know to which friend she is visiting (this sound quite harsh in a US website, I suppose )

One more thing: Finland is not socialist country we have free enterprise. But not much in school system. There are MBA programmes etc that cost real money, but nothing really until university.

[Anonymous]

Regards; Jaakko, from Finland. Forgot that one, sorry.

[Anonymous]

It's interesting that you like FCPS's science program. Compared to other countries, it seems to me to be our weakest area.

[Anonymous]

"I started school in S Korea. My parents taught me to read English before I moved to the US so I never felt behind. I though school in the US was so easy. I ended up going to Harvard."

School, college, and grad school in the U.S. is stunningly easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello you all, and regards from Finland!

I noticed this Forum by coincidence, but I hope I can clear some points made about the Schools in Finland. Before that I would like to say that I went to a US high school for a year (like many my friend here), so I have some (not in Elementary School) comparison.
I have three kids, age 10, 5 and 3. Only the oldest is in the school, younger ones are in daycare.

Okey,let's roll

"Finland does not give their kids standardized tests.
Individual schools have curriculum autonomy; individual teachers have classroom autonomy."

There are exams, but they are within one class (20-30 kids) only. So they are not meant to compare classes or even less schools with one another. Yes, schools have autonomy. And teachers. There are certain rules what to teach (European history in 4th grade, algebra 5th grade or so on. I made those examples up, but you get the point )

"It is not mandatory to give students grades until they are in the 8th grade.
All teachers are required to have a master's degree."

They give grades usually from the 3rd grade on. But again, you can't really compare those nation wide, more within one class. And yes, teachers have masters degree (also in the subject they teach), and they are respected.


"Finland does not have a culture of negative accountability for their teachers. According to Partanen, "bad" teachers receive more professional development; they are not threatened with being fired."

It strikes me how negative the media is in the US towards teachers. You don't get fired here until you really make a mess.


"Finland has a culture of collaboration between schools, not competition. Most schools, according to Partanen, perform at the same level, so there is no status in attending a particular facility. "

Yes, probably. Schools don't really compete. Mayby a bit in High School level, but not really even there

"Finland has no private schools.
Education emphasis is "equal opportunity to all."They value equality over excellence."


There are some schools that are independent (have their own curriculum), but no private schools.

"A much higher percentage of Finland's educational budget goes directly into the classroom than it does in the US, as administrators make approximately the same salary as teachers. This also makes Finland's education more affordable than it is in the US."


Education is basically free here, including lunch (of course - you have to feed your children well!)


"Finnish culture values childhood independence; one example: children mostly get themselves to school on their own, by walking or bicycling, etc. Helicopter parenting isn't really in their vocabulary. "

Yes, probably. My 10 year old is quite independent. But it is also safer here, at least mostly.

"Finnish schools don't assign homework, because it is assumed that mastery is attained in the classroom.
Finnish schools have sports, but no sports teams. Competition is not valued. "


We have homework! Mayby to that much (my daughter has about 30 minutes daily). ?
No school teams, but kids play during the break. There are lot's of breaks.
But there are teams for kids to do sports outside school, and they compete. Not maybe as much as in the US, but they do count goals

"The focus is on the individual child. If a child is falling behind, the highly trained teaching staff recognizes this need and immediately creates a plan to address the child's individual needs. Likewise, if a child is soaring ahead and bored, the staff is trained and prepared to appropriately address this as well"

Yes, they do try at least. And also succeed mostly.

Finally: I think the elementary school in Finland is excellent, high schools also pretty good. But University level is very good in the US (Finland also, but not many real top universities, some study abroad also).

What I like the most in Finnish elementary schools: Trust the school and teachers, give them independence.
Lot's of breaks and good food (the food in my US high school was a crime against the mankind - although I liked my school there otherwise )
Equality: All kids know that they can make it to a university rather easily. Or at least have good chance to do it.
Culture that supports learning - better media, less "hustle" all the time with everything, less pressure.

Now, I loved my time in the US, and still enjoy many thing American! I by no means want to "lecture", many things are not that good in Finland. But yes, the daycare-elementary school is MOSTLY good.

All the best; Jaakko from Helsinki, Finland

Sorry about the mistakes with grammar, etc.

Yup. My kids attends an international British school, the Finland school sound very similar. Kids learns to be sophisticated thinkers at a very young age. I know the US hate to think anyone does anything better than them, but there are much better education in many countries outside the US