Here's what the OECD says about Finland

Interesting short video from the OECD that talks about the Finnish system's strengths.

Diane Ravitch wonders if we should care about PISA...

'...Finland is at the other end of the educational spectrum. Its education system is modeled on American progressive ideas. It is student-centered. It has a broad (and non-directive) national curriculum. Its teachers are drawn from the top 10 percent of university graduates. They are highly educated and well prepared. Students never take a high-stakes test; their teachers make their own tests. The only test they take that counts is the one required to enter university.

Last week, I went to a luncheon with Pasi Sahlberg, the Finnish education expert. I asked him the question that every politician asks today: "If students don't take tests, how do you hold teachers and schools accountable?" He said that there is no word in the Finnish language for "accountability." He said, "We put well-prepared teachers in the classroom, give them maximum autonomy, and we trust them to be responsible."

I asked him if teachers are paid more for experience. He said, "Of course." And what about graduate degrees? He said, "Every teacher in Finland has a master's degree." He added: "We don't believe in competition among students, teachers, or schools. We believe in collaboration, trust, responsibility, and autonomy."...'

Read the whole article from Education Week here.

News from the international teachers

I know the Fulbrighters from India, Finland, South Africa, Singapore, Mexico and Argentina have been busy. Here is an article about a visit they made to a Maryland high school. I'm curious about what else they have been up to since arriving in August.

It's Tampere!

I just got my placement: Tampere! Here are some facts about Tampere:

1. It is the most populous inland city of any Nordic country (211,000).
2. It hosted the 2010 world ringette competition.
3. It is nicknamed the Manchester of Finland.
4. Its sister city is Syracuse, NY.
5. There is already snow on the ground there.

Turku in NY Times

Click here for the article

Linda Darling-Hammond's take on Finland's education system

Darling-Hammond starts out strong in her article about the Finnish system: "One wonders what we might accomplish as a nation if we could finally set aside what appears to be our de facto commitment to inequality, so profoundly at odds with our rhetoric of equity, and put the millions of dollars spent continually arguing and litigating into building a high-quality education system for all children."

Click here to read the full article.

Fulbright in Finland: Orientation Week

Greetings to you all. I spent last week getting oriented to my exciting opportunity to study in Finland. I and eighteen other Americans joined seventeen of our counterparts from Singapore, Argentina, Finland, Mexico, South Africa, and India to learn about our grants and the work we will be doing. And also to have lots of fun. Here are some pictures from D.C. Thanks to AED and the State Department for hosting us and organizing a great week.


The men, participating in a traditional dance from Eastern Cape province, South Africa.

The 36 Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching participants.

Team Finland!