I read an interesting article on Finland's school system and its success. The article presents an overview of the system, it's evolution, the changes that took place to bring it to it's present state and compares it to the (failure of) American Education system.
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| "This is what we do every day," "prepare kids for life." |
Following points stood out for me
- Children spend far more time playing outside, even in the depths of winter
- Homework is minimal
- Compulsory schooling does not begin until age 7
- 3rd language ( mostly english) from age 9
- Lesser focus on exam results and more focus on what the students become in life
- The concept of vocational high schools
- No compartmentalizing of students based on learning abilities ( other than the very challenged)
- Policies that ensure that teachers got respect (not salaries) on par with doctors and lawyers
- There is no top down approach on what should be taught
For anyone interested in education, what is taught in schools today and their relevance to life around us, there are quite a few takeaways.
The complete article ' Why are Finland's schools so successful? ' can be read here. I also recommend going through the comments section.
