Comments for Pasi Sahlberg Blog http://www.pasisahlberg.com/blog Finnish Education Reform Tue, 08 May 2012 14:17:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on What the U.S. can’t learn from Finland by George Ensinger http://www.pasisahlberg.com/blog/?p=84#comment-357 George Ensinger Tue, 08 May 2012 14:17:55 +0000 http://www.pasisahlberg.com/blog/?p=84#comment-357 The effectiveness of the Finnish education model is well known. I think that we would do well to learn from it. One of the important factors in their model is that teachers are well-respected. The loudest voices in "education reform" in the USA constantly rant about how bad teachers are. Out of millions of teachers, there will be some not-so-good teachers. These rants have traction with the public because each of us have probably had one or two bad teachers. The fact is that there are many good teachers. I believe it is also true that some good teachers can look less than good in face of resistant, defiant students. An unhelpful attitude from students is likely, in part, produced by or supported by the hateful rants of the loudest of "education reformers." I think these "reformers" are smart enough to know that their rants are counter-productive. I have to conclude, therefore, that they aim only to undermine our educational system. Second point: One need not travel to Finland to see good education. Recently, I spent a few days in an arts workshop teaching pinhole photography to middle school students, mixed grades 6-8. The workshop went very well. The students produced many good and interesting images. (We also discussed optics and photo-chemistry.) They enjoyed the work. I think I did a good job of teaching. Good teaching alone could not have produced that result, however. The children paid attention to my instructions. They asked questions. They used my creative suggestions. They experimented. They came up with their own creative ideas. They were extremely polite. In short, they were wonderful students! Successful education is a multi-factor interactive process. The success of my workshop grew as much from the students as it did from me. In addition: Those students' parents contributed. The school atmosphere contributed. That school and others in this country are exemplars of good education. The current over-emphasis on testing and blaming teachers will only work to prevent the improvement in education the "ranters" claim to champion. The effectiveness of the Finnish education model is well known. I think that we would do well to learn from it. One of the important factors in their model is that teachers are well-respected. The loudest voices in “education reform” in the USA constantly rant about how bad teachers are. Out of millions of teachers, there will be some not-so-good teachers. These rants have traction with the public because each of us have probably had one or two bad teachers. The fact is that there are many good teachers. I believe it is also true that some good teachers can look less than good in face of resistant, defiant students. An unhelpful attitude from students is likely, in part, produced by or supported by the hateful rants of the loudest of “education reformers.” I think these “reformers” are smart enough to know that their rants are counter-productive. I have to conclude, therefore, that they aim only to undermine our educational system.

Second point: One need not travel to Finland to see good education. Recently, I spent a few days in an arts workshop teaching pinhole photography to middle school students, mixed grades 6-8. The workshop went very well. The students produced many good and interesting images. (We also discussed optics and photo-chemistry.) They enjoyed the work. I think I did a good job of teaching. Good teaching alone could not have produced that result, however. The children paid attention to my instructions. They asked questions. They used my creative suggestions. They experimented. They came up with their own creative ideas. They were extremely polite. In short, they were wonderful students! Successful education is a multi-factor interactive process. The success of my workshop grew as much from the students as it did from me. In addition: Those students’ parents contributed. The school atmosphere contributed. That school and others in this country are exemplars of good education. The current over-emphasis on testing and blaming teachers will only work to prevent the improvement in education the “ranters” claim to champion.

]]> Comment on Welcome! by Francesca Davis http://www.pasisahlberg.com/blog/?page_id=9#comment-350 Francesca Davis Sun, 06 May 2012 17:05:02 +0000 http://www.pasisahlberg.com/?page_id=9#comment-350 I too am interested! I too am interested!

]]> Comment on Welcome! by Francesca Davis http://www.pasisahlberg.com/blog/?page_id=9#comment-349 Francesca Davis Sun, 06 May 2012 17:04:18 +0000 http://www.pasisahlberg.com/?page_id=9#comment-349 I am writing a paper comparing Finland and Colorado and wanted to find some statistics on child poverty rates in Finland in the 1960s. I would be very grateful for your suggestions on where to look. Thank you! I am writing a paper comparing Finland and Colorado and wanted to find some statistics on child poverty rates in Finland in the 1960s. I would be very grateful for your suggestions on where to look. Thank you!

]]> Comment on Global Educational Reform Movement is here! by Theo Byland http://www.pasisahlberg.com/blog/?p=68#comment-347 Theo Byland Sat, 05 May 2012 20:38:49 +0000 http://www.pasisahlberg.com/blog/?p=68#comment-347 You are right! Wonderful post. Unfortunately too late for Switzerland: the whole educational system here is up to be infected by GERM viruses.... And nobody knows exactly why and what for. Standardization as an illusion that you "know" enough to be sure that success in personal and business life will come? You are right! Wonderful post. Unfortunately too late for Switzerland: the whole educational system here is up to be infected by GERM viruses…. And nobody knows exactly why and what for. Standardization as an illusion that you “know” enough to be sure that success in personal and business life will come?

]]> Comment on Global Educational Reform Movement is here! by Homepage http://www.pasisahlberg.com/blog/?p=68#comment-345 Homepage Sat, 05 May 2012 14:43:33 +0000 http://www.pasisahlberg.com/blog/?p=68#comment-345 <strong>... [Trackback]...</strong> [...] Read More: pasisahlberg.com/blog/?p=68 [...]... … [Trackback]…

[...] Read More: pasisahlberg.com/blog/?p=68 [...]…

]]> Comment on What the U.S. can’t learn from Finland by anonymous http://www.pasisahlberg.com/blog/?p=84#comment-329 anonymous Sat, 28 Apr 2012 20:02:33 +0000 http://www.pasisahlberg.com/blog/?p=84#comment-329 "only the top 5% of applicants is admitted to a primary school teacher education program. Mind you, this is the top 5% of applicants who are all admissible to university." AFAIK, there is no separate admission to the university and the programs. One applies to study specific programs when one applies to the university. It is possible that some of the failed applicants wouldn't be able get in the university to study in any program. Not that it affects your overall argument. Just saying. “only the top 5% of applicants is admitted to a primary school teacher education program. Mind you, this is the top 5% of applicants who are all admissible to university.”

AFAIK, there is no separate admission to the university and the programs. One applies to study specific programs when one applies to the university. It is possible that some of the failed applicants wouldn’t be able get in the university to study in any program.
Not that it affects your overall argument. Just saying.

]]> Comment on What the U.S. can’t learn from Finland by anonymous http://www.pasisahlberg.com/blog/?p=84#comment-328 anonymous Sat, 28 Apr 2012 19:29:03 +0000 http://www.pasisahlberg.com/blog/?p=84#comment-328 I wouldn't fault the half that "doesn't pay any taxes" - they might not afford it. Privatized infrastructure can be very expensive. Social issues (whether behavioural or something else) are a complex interconnected mess. I would advocate going against poverty (whether absolute or relative) first, because that only takes money, which is an easy "solution" compared to any other part of the mess. Income in the lower rungs correlates with self worth, which goes to help with a whole lot of problems with hopelessness, lack of belief for advancement in life, crime, etc. Once those problems abate, the community starts gaining trust in one another and society in general, which further calms things down for the benefit of everyone. Income also helps to build the kind of basic necessities in life that allows home and school work together from a solid foundation. But maybe that's just me. I wouldn’t fault the half that “doesn’t pay any taxes” – they might not afford it. Privatized infrastructure can be very expensive.

Social issues (whether behavioural or something else) are a complex interconnected mess. I would advocate going against poverty (whether absolute or relative) first, because that only takes money, which is an easy “solution” compared to any other part of the mess. Income in the lower rungs correlates with self worth, which goes to help with a whole lot of problems with hopelessness, lack of belief for advancement in life, crime, etc. Once those problems abate, the community starts gaining trust in one another and society in general, which further calms things down for the benefit of everyone. Income also helps to build the kind of basic necessities in life that allows home and school work together from a solid foundation.
But maybe that’s just me.

]]> Comment on What the U.S. can’t learn from Finland by anonymous http://www.pasisahlberg.com/blog/?p=84#comment-327 anonymous Sat, 28 Apr 2012 19:03:27 +0000 http://www.pasisahlberg.com/blog/?p=84#comment-327 There's a fundamental problem with private enterprises providing basic or critical infrastructure without clear bounds or easily measurable outcome. Even if it begins as a good-hearted, idealistic effort, sooner or later some suit succumbs fully to the profit motive, forgets the main purpose of the operation and the cost to the society rises while the quality of service drops. Additionally, if applicable, those essential parts of the service not fully specified or quantified in the service contract erode and either cracks appear or seams start to show. There’s a fundamental problem with private enterprises providing basic or critical infrastructure without clear bounds or easily measurable outcome. Even if it begins as a good-hearted, idealistic effort, sooner or later some suit succumbs fully to the profit motive, forgets the main purpose of the operation and the cost to the society rises while the quality of service drops. Additionally, if applicable, those essential parts of the service not fully specified or quantified in the service contract erode and either cracks appear or seams start to show.

]]> Comment on Four questions about education in Finland by anonymous http://www.pasisahlberg.com/blog/?p=76#comment-326 anonymous Sat, 28 Apr 2012 18:47:49 +0000 http://www.pasisahlberg.com/blog/?p=76#comment-326 Children, especially small children, have to be allowed to be children. Not all learning happens in schools. Children, especially small children, have to be allowed to be children. Not all learning happens in schools.

]]> Comment on What the U.S. can’t learn from Finland by John Merrow: Two Poems for the Month of Testing | Demete http://www.pasisahlberg.com/blog/?p=84#comment-319 John Merrow: Two Poems for the Month of Testing | Demete Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:11:02 +0000 http://www.pasisahlberg.com/blog/?p=84#comment-319 [...] the alternative? This short piece was written by Pasi Sahlberg, the author of Finnish Lessons (Teachers College Press). It may make [...] [...] the alternative? This short piece was written by Pasi Sahlberg, the author of Finnish Lessons (Teachers College Press). It may make [...]

]]>