“What I did this summer.” This classic
thematic essay prompt could have been a fitting title for my first blog entry
of the new school year. Several months
ago, I was ecstatic to learn that I was one of several educators from across
the country selected to study the Finnish education system in and around
Finland’s capital city, Helsinki. I
completed my trip in July, and it is an experience that was often at the
forefront of my mind as I prepared for the coming school year.
For those
not very familiar with this Nordic country, here are a few quick facts for you
in order to become better acquainted:
1. Yes, they actually eat reindeer
(don’t knock it until you’ve tried it).
2. No, they are not actually
Scandinavian. They have more in common with Russia and Estonia than with
neighboring Sweden or the other Scandinavian countries.
3. They invented the sauna, and there
are an estimated two million of them in the country.
4. They just won the ice hockey world
championship, and it is a source of national pride.
5. And…year after year, they are regarded
as the best public education system in the world.
Of course,
the final factoid compelled me to take a trip to this nation nestled along the
Baltic Sea. I was eager to unlock the
secrets of their success and return home to put a Hanover spin on them. What I found though is that there was no real
secret at all. In fact, the first thing that
stood out to me was just how similar they are to us. Their school day length was comparable, class
sizes were nearly identical, they have their summers off, teacher and
administrator responsibilities were very similar, right down to “duty periods,”
and the students complain about the cafeteria food despite it being quite
good. I could relate to all of these things
perfectly, of course. In fact, at times,
it felt more as if I had traveled to a neighboring state rather than to another
country.
Certainly,
there were some differences as well. For instance, they begin elementary school
typically a year or two later than we do, and they completely destigmatize
trades-based education. In addition, all
students select their high school by area of interest and aptitude (e.g., fine
arts high schools, trades high schools, and even sports-based high schools),
somewhat like our specialty centers.
While these differences were notable, they were not individually or
collectively responsible for their success from what I could gather. As I continued to try to decipher what set
them apart from the world, I realized that it was not a particular thing that
they did but areas they emphasized in every area of public education. After further contemplation on the matter, I
jotted down a simple equation in my notebook:
P + R = T
The “P” in
the equation stands for Professionalism.
No matter his or her role, every educator we spoke with took tremendous
pride in being a part of the education system.
There is little doubt that professionalism is part of the national
culture as well. Being a teacher is one
of the most highly regarded professions. They accept approximately the top 10% into the
education programs in Finnish universities, and all certified teachers must
hold at least a master’s degree in education.
Even more impressive though was that they discussed brain-based
learning, neuroscience, and pedagogy every day.
It was as if they were saying, “How can we effectively educate students if
we do not understand the science behind how they learn?” When a student struggled, whether
behaviorally or academically, it became an opportunity for a teacher to showcase
his or her skill, similar to how a skilled physician might successfully
diagnose and remedy an ailment. They did
not need to mention the word “professionalism,” specifically. Rather, it was simply the expectation of all.
The “R”
stands for Relationships. We often talk
about getting to know our students more authentically. However, with all that we must accomplish by
the end of the school year, it often feels like an impossible task. The Finns have a different
interpretation. They maintain that
learning cannot begin in earnest until the relationship is established. Studies of how the brain learns have proven
that when a student has a positive relationship with the instructor, engagement
increases considerably, which maximizes retention. Using this premise, they assert that forming
authentic relationships is not an add-on to teaching—it is the very foundation
of teaching.
The final
component of the equation is a word that was mentioned by every educator we
encountered. Unlike the word “professionalism,”
the Finns mentioned this word more times than I could tally. They will say that if any single word
describes their education, it is “trust.”
It permeates all that they do.
Teachers are trusted to be curriculum and pedagogical experts. Administrators are trusted to foster
nurturing learning environments and set teachers up for success. Policymakers are trusted to govern with the
students’ best interest in mind.
Students and the community as a whole trust everyone in our profession
to prepare the next generation by providing them with a truly world-class
education. This yields a system where
the prestige of working in education becomes very attractive.
While this may
seem like a chicken and egg conversation, I have come to believe that the first
two components have to be present first.
When combined together, professionalism and relationships produce trust. Thus, P + R = T. It is, of course, relatively simple to list
all of the reasons why this approach would not work in the U.S.A. and how
culturally we would be comparing the proverbial apples to oranges. Admittedly, there are factors that are very
much beyond our control. However, the
key ingredients are very much within reach.
Every one of
us can commit ourselves to high professional standards in our work. When I hear that someone is a professional or
has turned pro, it conjures up images of someone who is at the very top of
their game or area of focus. Perhaps
like me, your mind may go to a professional athlete or an incredibly skilled
musician when you hear that term. In any
case, it means that a professional is among a very skilled few, and it is a
good reminder to me that educators are no different. We ARE the
ones charged to have a unique skillset
unlike any others when it comes to educating young minds. We have a duty of care to continue honing our
craft in order to be “on top of our game” at all times. The classrooms, buses, and hallways are our
stage where five-star performances occur on a daily basis. Professionalism IS within our control.
Perhaps more
than any other profession, we are in a very human business. Anytime that humans interact with one
another, relationships matter. In the
most human of all professions, it stands to reason that relationships matter
most in education. I wonder what would
occur if every one of us made cultivating positive relationships with students
our first priority. Would engagement
increase? Would achievement
increase? Would discipline
decrease? Would it also lead to better
adult relationships? My gut says “yes”
to all of these questions, and I’d love to find out the answer. I challenge everyone (myself included) to
remember why we entered into this incredible profession—to serve. Fostering relationships is within our
control.
If my theory
is correct, then focusing on the “P” and the “R” will begin to yield a greater
“T.” No, I do not intend for this to be
a rose-colored glasses narrative where I am trying to convince you that if you
do these things, then society will suddenly embrace educators and never
question your expertise. Nor am I trying
to suggest that by simply concentrating on professionalism and relationships that
every building will become a utopia without issues and that suddenly we will
vault to #1 on all of the world rankings.
What I am trying to suggest is
that there is no secret to success. Like
anything worth achieving, it takes hard work.
It takes constant study and investment in building relationships, even
when the person on the other end may be resistant. I do believe that trust can grow. I am also suggesting that I wholeheartedly believe
that all of us are well within our capabilities as professionals to make an
incredible impact, and if there is anything worth that effort, it is the future
of our children. I trust each of you to
do exactly that. I also trust that this
is going to be an incredible year because of you. Let’s get to work!
Very enlightening. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDelete