Finnish schools are amazing. Scratch that, Finnish schools SEEM amazing. I have never actually set foot in Finland, let alone attend a school there. I like to imagine that they are nice though. After all, I have only heard/seen good things from the easternmost Norwegian country.
The Fins have quite the laid back approach to learning. Students rarely have homework, tests, and seemingly stress of any kind. From the looks of it, everyone enjoys school. It wouldn't be rare to walk into a Finnish school and find students walking around in socks. They have that kind of an atmosphere. High school is treated as a time of exploration for students. This is when they decide what they enjoy doing. Teachers are friends, not graders. Upon graduation, the kids will move on to college just like an American student, but the journey for a diploma is very different.
Ironically, I was so caught up with other classwork that this blog post is LATE. I'm going to get marked down on an assignment while some Finnish kid is probably enjoying his time playing video games. American schools stress constant homework and testing, yet we fall behind the Fins in math, reading, and science. When does a good thing become a bad thing?
Finland has built a unique educational system. With this being said, it not impossible for the United States to take notes and try to embrace some of these "foreign" concepts. I know I wouldn't mind doing less homework, or taking fewer tests. I am sure that others would agree as well. While this does not remain true for all, I enjoy learning. With less time spent on homework and studying, more time could be spent on applying these skills that the school system emphasizes. When I ask fellow students if they participate in extracurricular clubs or activities, they often respond with something along the lines of "I don't have the time." These students are either lying to me (which is totally possible, Current Events Club is not for everyone) or telling the truth. Both cases are a bit saddening. Free the students.
The Fins have quite the laid back approach to learning. Students rarely have homework, tests, and seemingly stress of any kind. From the looks of it, everyone enjoys school. It wouldn't be rare to walk into a Finnish school and find students walking around in socks. They have that kind of an atmosphere. High school is treated as a time of exploration for students. This is when they decide what they enjoy doing. Teachers are friends, not graders. Upon graduation, the kids will move on to college just like an American student, but the journey for a diploma is very different.
Ironically, I was so caught up with other classwork that this blog post is LATE. I'm going to get marked down on an assignment while some Finnish kid is probably enjoying his time playing video games. American schools stress constant homework and testing, yet we fall behind the Fins in math, reading, and science. When does a good thing become a bad thing?
Finland has built a unique educational system. With this being said, it not impossible for the United States to take notes and try to embrace some of these "foreign" concepts. I know I wouldn't mind doing less homework, or taking fewer tests. I am sure that others would agree as well. While this does not remain true for all, I enjoy learning. With less time spent on homework and studying, more time could be spent on applying these skills that the school system emphasizes. When I ask fellow students if they participate in extracurricular clubs or activities, they often respond with something along the lines of "I don't have the time." These students are either lying to me (which is totally possible, Current Events Club is not for everyone) or telling the truth. Both cases are a bit saddening. Free the students.