Finland and its 'unique' educational environment

“Learn from Finland, a country with many of the best schools and an education system that is very different from the US,” Harvard education expert Howard Gardner once advised Americans.

On Gardner’s advice, William Doyle, a 2015-2016 Fulbright Scholar and lecturer in educational communication at the University of Eastern Finland, enrolled his 7-year-old son at Joesuu Primary School. And Doyle was not disappointed. In just five months, his family has experienced a “wonderful, stress-free” education system.

One evening, Mr. Doyle asked his son what he had done in physical education that day and received the answer: “We were sent into the woods with a map and a compass. We had to find our way out.”

As a rule, children will have a 15-minute outdoor break after every hour of class.

Finland has long been known as the Western country that scores the highest in global tests. In addition, Finland ranks first in global rankings, for example as the country with the highest literacy rate.

In Finland, children do not start formal education until they are 7 years old. Until then, many children are placed in day care and learn through games, songs and conversations. Most children walk or cycle to school even at a very young age. Class time is short and there is little homework.

Finland doesn't waste time and money on ineffective standardized testing. Instead, children are assessed daily through direct observation, check-ins, and quizzes.In class, children play, laugh and dream all day long. Finns always say: “Let children be children”, “A child’s job is to play”, “Children learn best through play”.

The classroom atmosphere is warm, safe, respectful and supportive. There are no pre-written lessons or formal requirements like walking in a straight line or sitting up straight. A Chinese student-teacher studying in Finland surprised Doyle: “In Chinese schools, you feel like you’re in the army. Here, you feel like you’re part of a wonderful family.”

In Finland, teachers are the most respected and admired professionals after doctors. They must have a master's degree in education and expertise in research and teaching.“It is the job of adults to protect children from politicians.We must take proper responsibility and ask businessmen to stay away from the educational environment.”, a Finnish expert on early childhood education told Mr. Doyle.

Finns always say: “Let children be children”, “A child's job is to play”, “Children learn best through play”.

One day in late November 2015, Mr. Doyle heard a loud noise outside the faculty office window and near the outdoor playground. He went out to investigate.

The playground was filled with children. They were enjoying the first snowflakes of winter. The recess leader, a special education teacher in a yellow safety vest, asked him: “Do you hear that?” And then she proudly replied: “It’s the sound of happiness.”

According to VNE