We will be working with Dr. Pasi Sahlberg while in Finland. He was recently interviewed on Canadian radio. Here was his introduction:
"Dr. Pasi Sahlberg is the face of Finnish Education and one of the world's most sought-after advisors and thinkers on education reform. He sits on the board of several international education organizations and he's the Director General of the Center for International Mobility Cooperation in Helsinki. His most recent book is the award-winning Finnish Lessons: What Can the World Learn from Educational Change in Finland. A book that has attracted attention at the highest levels of governments around the world."
Learning that I made from that interview:
Link: http://www.cbc.ca/thesundayedition/shows/2013/02/17/finnish-schools/
"Dr. Pasi Sahlberg is the face of Finnish Education and one of the world's most sought-after advisors and thinkers on education reform. He sits on the board of several international education organizations and he's the Director General of the Center for International Mobility Cooperation in Helsinki. His most recent book is the award-winning Finnish Lessons: What Can the World Learn from Educational Change in Finland. A book that has attracted attention at the highest levels of governments around the world."
Learning that I made from that interview:
- Teachers are paid at an average level compared to other professions.
- Only about 10% of applicants are accepted into Teacher Education programs.
- Teacher Education (college) is paid for by the government, including their masters degree.
- Children start school at age 7 because play at home is so valued. The children's job is "play"! If children start school at age 3, 4, 5 they lose the opportunity to develop their imagination and ability to think and use their minds, not just fill in bubbles.
- Early childhood development services should be made available for those families that need it, but we should keep in non-instructional (filled with music and play).
- They do have homework - it's a progressive approach. They still want to give time for play, though. There is not a strong accent on the role of homework in improving learning.
- Whenever we try to compromise with regard to standardized testing, I haven't seen a real good use of these tests.
- How do we measure academic progress? (1) Analyze samples of student work (2) Rely on the educated and prepared teachers to measure their progress. Trust and rely on your teachers!!!
- Standardized testing forces teachers to teach to the test rather than provide good teaching.
- We need more focus on arts and music and drama.
- Not everyone knows where their true talents lie. We want our young people to discover their talents whether they are in the arts, academic subjects, etc. We try to offer personalized pathways to finding their talents. We feel this helps reduce dropout rates since students discover their talents and have higher self-esteems.
- The Finnish Way is a road to enhancing and improving equity in education.
- The Finnish school system could not be copied by other countries because of distinct differences between the countries. However, Dr. Sahlberg does not see that as an excuse for poor practices.
- Much more... Listen to the radio interview below to hear it for yourself!
Link: http://www.cbc.ca/thesundayedition/shows/2013/02/17/finnish-schools/