Why Are Finland's Schools Successful? | People & Places | Smithsonian Magazine - 0 views
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professionals selected from the top 10 percent of the nation’s graduates to earn a required master’s degree in education
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Kristen Koburger on 19 Sep 11Although we are obviously all pursuing our masters in education, it is not required in America that teachers receive a masters in order to teacher. In fact, in some schools and in some parts of the country just getting a teaching certificate is enough to qualify adults to become teachers. I wonder if the standard to become an employable teacher in Amercia was raised, if there would be better quality teachers. I think that if becomig a teacher required more then a certificate or a bachelors degree, only those who are truely passionate about teaching would try to become teachers.
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Rachael Webster on 20 Sep 11Having such requirements might also increase the prestige associated with teaching. It seems like Finland subscribes to the idea that only the best may teach, while the US still believes that those who can't do teach. Why would you want someone who can't do something teaching it? It's such a nonsensical colloquialism, but one that permeates attitudes toward teachers.
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Ron Lombard on 22 Sep 11there is push to do this in the US - problem is QPA's and test score don't prove you can teach
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Rebecca Delivuk on 24 Sep 11If we increase the level of education required to teach, then we will probably have to increase teacher's compensation so they can pay off school loans. But honestly, I think increasing education is not the biggest need--changing teacher's unions so that low-quality teachers can be fired, and high-performing teachers can be rewarded, might be a more effective method.
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Loren Kurpiewski on 27 Sep 11I agree with Dr. Lombard in that QPAs and test scores don't prove anything about your teaching ability, but I think that spending the extra time, effort and money to earn your Masters is an indicator of your determination and eagerness to not only be a teacher, but be a *great* teacher.
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“Children from wealthy families with lots of education can be taught by stupid teachers,” Louhivuori said, smiling. “We try to catch the weak students. It’s deep in our thinking.”
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While I don't relish the idea of anyone having a stupid teacher, I certainly do applaud the acknowledgement that the weakest students need the strongest teachers. We need teachers who view working with the least priviledged students as the primo jobs and jobs working with kids who already have everything as something that you'd take if you had to. If you want to be rewarded for your job, isn't seeing a kid go from the bottom up a lot more rewarding than seeing a kid who has everything inch up a little higher in his already awesome educational career? I sound like I don't think wealthier students deserve good teachers, and that's not what I mean. I'm just saying that the toughest jobs are the ones we should be the proudest and most excited to do.
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Now this approach makes sense in particular in the lower grades
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BALLIN!
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I love this quote! These weaker students are the ones falling through the cracks in America or being wrongly pushed ahead.
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If you only measure the statistics, you miss the human aspect.”
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