What Makes Finnish Kids So Smart?

This article is about the difference in the education systems between the United States and Finland. And what differences are making the Finnish students finish in the top percent in all of the standard testing categories.

One of the biggest difference between these two education systems is the use of technology. In the United States teachers are often put on the spot to use as much technology as possible in their classrooms. Mostly through the use of PowerPoint and computer work. In Finland the teachers do not focus on the advances in technology at all. Most teachers teach on chalk boards and use overheads transparencies instead of Power Point. This lack of technology helps the students because they are not as easily distracted by the flashy Power Point and new technology.

Another big difference in the education systems is the freedom available for teachers. In the United States teachers have to stay focused on a laid out curriculum and have almost no freedom to change the curriculum or the work that the students have to do. In Finland teachers have the chance to change the curriculum in which they are going to teach. This is good because the teachers can change the curriculum to something that they want to teach and that the students are really interested in. This freedom gives the teachers the chance to push the students with something they really want to learn about and excel in.

One of the biggest differences between Finnish schools and American schools is the emphasis on reading. In Finland parents of newborns are given a packet of multiple books to read to their children while they are growing up. In Finland reading can be found everywhere the children go. Including in shopping malls where children and adolescents can easily access the books they want and are interesting to them. Also in many Finnish communities a book bus travels around the neighborhood to lend out books to the children so they can always have a new book to read and stimulate their minds. In the United States an emphasis is never put on reading during growing up. Parents are not taught from the beginning of their child's life that reading should be emphasized and that children need to be surrounded with many books in order to stimulate their minds throughout development.

The United States' education system can learn a lot from the Finnish schools systems in how to emphasize reading and by doing that ultimately increase our scores on the nationwide and worldwide testing.

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