When discussing the education system, Finland has done it right. Ranking 3rd highest in the world for graduation rate (the US ranks in at #21 (#36 between the Slovak Republic and Lithuania as a developed education system), and possibly lower if social situation is taken into consideration), the West can learn a lot from its counterparts – literally.
Finnish classrooms more or less focus on the student as a growing individual deserving of nurture. Frequent breaks provide a low stress environment, and a shorter 5 hour day in school. Coupled with an average of 3 teachers per class room and class sizes under 20, each student receives a quality education that frankly, the average middle class westerner can only dream of.
There is also incentive for the teacher: higher wages and less hours, giving them the time and energy to provide their expertise. But the kicker is that there are no private schools in Finland, making it inexcusable to use private versus public as an excuse for, well, anything. In Finland, everything is based on equality.
Even more practical is the banning of smartphones in Finnish schools, and free, healthy lunches (though other countries supersede the USA in leaps with this category), and the ability to choose their own destiny upon arrival into 9th grade.
The need to reconsider the US (and in this case, other Western societies’ education systems, such as Australia, which are beginning to mirror the US) is vitally important for the sake of our children’s future and well-being in an otherwise tumultuous world.
This Article (Finland Education System could teach the West a new lesson) is free and open source. You have permission to republish this article under a Creative Commons license with attribution to the author and AnonHQ.com.
That’s great to hear!! I’m glad there’s a country thats setting the standard
Glad to hear Finland is a good example!
Here are some corrections and more information:
There’s normally ONLY ONE teacher per classroom.
Finnish school lunch is not like in the pictures above. And they only serve desserts twice a year.
Phones are not allowed on lessons, but you can use them during brakes.
The school hours depend on your age. Young kids have short days (about 9-13 o’clock), but older ones have longer days (about 8-15)
I moved to Finland 2 years ago to marry a Finn, and now she is about 2 months pregnant. Very happy with life here in Finland, and I am very very glad that my future child/ren will have the very best start that life could give.
My uncle and my cousin is both named Finn, and we from Norway, so to me it sounds like u found forbidden love, lol, just messing with ya!
Well it seems they just need to work the lack of empathy towards animals and then it could be a “perfect society”.
silly how we can find black in every perfect white portrait. We’re talking about a country who works hard to provide a perfect social environment to its citizen: state subventions to graduates, perfect schooling system… The U.S doesn’t have half of it and it slaughters more animals than Finland and in worst conditions.. U.K as well. So why the hell trying to find black points to each perfect society just because yours is imperfect ? Cruelty regarding animals is in human nature since the beginning of humanity so stop finding excuses. I’m ok with respectful slaughter houses but i’m not okay not eating animals. It’s my point of view. Vegans can be shocked with what i’m saying but i find it impossible to live with seeds. Period.
US school lunch looks like shit.
It’s going down every year. Our government is so worried how to get rich people even richer, that they are cutting also on education.
True, this shit is going down with the right-wing government. Fuck the right-wing assholes!
non of the Asian countries have this kind of food in school
In the Netherlands, we don’t even have a full meal for lunch ??
american government does NOT want to spend money wisely (especially with conservatards in control). one teacher to scads of different kids who used to have their own classrooms to meet their needs. parents don’t want to do anything and expect the schools to do all perfectly for free. what happens after all the decent teachers have thrown up their hands and leave? smh