A Blueprint Worth Following

As part of the PDK International Emerging Leader Award, I had the opportunity to attend an amazing professional development experience in Washington DC.  During the first session there was a presentation on the Finnish Education System and the characteristics that make is the most successful system in the world in terms of student achievement.  

Here are some aspects that called out to me:

• Culture of trust and moral/social responsibility.
• No inspections or continuous monitoring by state/federal agencies.
• No standardized tests until the 12th grade.
• A country that truly values educators so much so that they are on par with doctors and lawyers. Everyone aspires to be a teacher, which translates into the best students pursuing this as a career.
• All students attend higher education for FREE.
• All teachers have a Master's Degree.
• All administrators also teach.
• Free lunch for all students.
• The basic education curriculum is only 128 pages.
• Free market for publishing, which means teacher has total autonomy as to the resources he/she wants to use including textbooks.

So why does the US Department of Education not take any cues from the Finnish blueprint for success?  Seems like we are doing the exact opposite.