Anyone who has visited one of the Nordic states, and remained there for a period of time, would immediately recognize there are several differences between the Nordic states and the U.S. The Nordic states are not known as cultural “melting pots”.
The Nordic states teach in one language and do not truly accommodate racial and ethnic diversity in the classroom. The Nordic states focus on a core curriculum that does not give credit for “feel good” classes like those now proliferating American schools.
Finland is held in high esteem by professional educators (not necessarily teachers) for its educational program. But Finland is also considered one of the most ethnically homogenous nations in the world:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publicat...k/geos/fi.html. Finland requires immigrant students to learn the Finnish language before “placing” them in the appropriate grade.
“Much of Finland's success has been attributed to the high prestige associated with being a teacher and the fact that it is as hard for Finns to win a place on a teacher training course as it is for them to get into law or medical school.
“But another aspect of Finland's success – getting children whose first language is not Finnish up to the high standards of their classmates – appears to have been overlooked by the education tourists.
“Anastasia, Artur, Kevin and Arthur stay in their class of four with a teacher and teaching assistant for 25 hours a week – for every subject except sports and arts. It can be anything between six months and a year before they are judged to have mastered Finnish and are ready to be placed into their correct year group.”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/...grant-children
Finland only requires students to stay in school until students finish the 9th grade. Finland allows would-be 10th graders to enter the work force: the U.S. has child labor laws forbidding this. Professional educators (not necessarily teachers) also are clever in the way they present the story of Finland’s success.
Professional educators love to show how Finland has a low student failure rate: few students repeat the same grade. However, the resources devoted to failing student is the equivalent of a student repeating a grade – more teachers are employed and the students are required to participate in additional, extended school days, weeks and months. The net effect is that the additional resources and time equate, or nearly equate, to a repeated year.
Furthermore, counselors are employed to insure students do not make bad, personal choices regarding their future. Here’s a prominent socialist’s – that is professional educator’s – POV regarding counselors:
“[C]areer guidance and counseling became a compulsory part of the comprehensive school curriculum in all schools. It was assumed at the time that if all pupils remained in the same school until the end of their compulsory education, they would need systematic counseling on their options after completing basic school.
Career guidance was intended to minimize the possibility that the students would make inappropriate choices regarding their futures. In principle, students had three options: continue general education in upper secondary general school (which about 51 percent of students do), go on to vocational upper secondary school (which about 42 percent of students do), or find employment.” by Dr. Sahlberg.
http://www.aft.org/pdfs/americaneduc...2/Sahlberg.pdf
Please note, only 51% of Finnish students are on track to go on to college; the others are sent on a different career track.
Also note, Finland’s unemployment rate for 15 to 24 year olds is 3% higher than in the U.S.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publicat...s/2229.html#fi.
WTF is wrong with Americans?
