Last semester, I wrote a column on education reform, specifically what the American education system can learn from the Finnish system. This is an update and a plea of sorts. It seems to me that in order to change our education system, we need to start to change our classic American mindset.
This change begins with competition. Competition has its place in the American marketplace, but it should have limitations.
A 2012 global report by education firm Pearson ranked Finland and South Korea as the best education systems in the world. The study, which evaluated more than 40 developed nations based on international test scores, graduation rates between 2006 and 2010 and the prevalence of higher education seekers, ranked the U.S. 17th.
The Finnish and Korean systems are very different, though, especially in how they address competition.
On one hand, we have South Korea. A society driven by competition, South Korean students are obsessed with getting into college. But they have to be. In South Korea, more than 80 percent of high school students move on to college. As high school seniors, students take the College Scholastic Ability Test. The test, which students start preparing for years in advance, is a big enough deal for the country that the stock markets open an hour late, buses and subway services are increased and police cars offer rides to students. They absolutely cannot be late for their one big shot at college, and ultimately, their one big shot to get a job with one of the business giants in South Korea. The stress gets to them. Amidst the high rankings in education, South Korea also maintains one of the highest suicide rates in the world.
On the other hand, we have Finland. Compared to the East Asian model of education, Finland seems especially compelling. Finnish schools assign less homework, spend less time in the classroom and emphasize creative play and exercise for students. The Finnish school system, run by teachers who are required to have at least a master’s degree, focuses on students who are struggling. Teachers make it a personal mission to help every child achieve to his or her full potential. In short, Finland de-emphasizes competition and puts a premium on equality. Maybe that’s why they are the best in the world. Maybe their system is the one the U.S. should truly strive for.
Finland has no private schools (that includes college). Schools are not allowed to charge tuition because all schooling is publicly funded – from pre-K up to Ph.D. Lists of the best schools or the best students or the best teachers don’t exist. It is a culture of cooperation, not competition. The main goal is to assure that every child, regardless of race, socioeconomic class, background or geographic location has the chance to achieve success; excellence was not on the to-do list, but it happened anyway.
Moral of the story: The economic inequality of society, as seen in the 99 percent movement, is making it harder and harder to achieve education equity. But we aren’t the first to have this problem. Finland’s education reform addressed the same issue in the 1980s and it’s time that Americans address it now too. Honestly, it’s in the spirit of our true competitive nature that we encourage change. Emphasizing equality and cooperation at home in order to improve our internal system is, perhaps, what can allow America to, once again, be competitive abroad.
