Finland has one of the best educational systems in the world. They treat teachers as prestigious members of society, and require high standards from them to have that status. They have no private schools and teach children to think instead of regurgitate answers to some arbitrary mandatory test.
Scott Walker is doing the exact opposite. How do you think that will turn out?
Sadly, I don't see any American candidates willing to promote this, of either party. And then people wonder why we're losing ground daily.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
"... They want obedient workers . . . Obedient workers, people who are just smart enough to run the machines and do the paperwork. ..."
ReplyDeleteInteresting that when "Waiting for Superman" came out movie goers jumped on Teachers's Unions and for rallied private competetion. Yet, in the movie they used Finland as a the world's best model-- without mentioning the that Finland is 100% union.
ReplyDeleteAnother key difference is that in Finland, it is very difficult to become a teacher. Only the best students qualify for their educators program. All entry-level teachers must have a Master’s Degree—fully paid for. Another difference is that in Finland schools do not compete; they are cooperative and equity-based. All children must receive the exact opportunity for education, and is funded accordingly. So that each child is prepared to learn, they are provided with breakfast each day, medical care, psychological and social services.
Overall, I found it contrary that the film being so pro-choice, pro-privatization, and pro-competition would tout the excellent achievement scores of the Finnish schools and not explore the methods to get there, and that is: closing the inequality gap closes the achievement gap.
In my opinon the film was an infomercial for coporatizing our schools. Instead they should have focused on how our schools are funded.
The irony that "Inside Job" took the Oscar that year, should not be lost.