? Yesterday, I listened to a large-scale public lecture on "Family Education and Happiness in Finland" held by Wan Hui Kindergarten in the second classroom. The speaker is Dr. Dong Li, a doctor of management in Finland and an expert in basic education design course in China. His lectures are all dry goods and practical landing methods. Yesterday afternoon's lecture mainly introduced Finnish education, and introduced Finnish education concept to Wan Hui International School. The lecture site was noisy and time was limited. After returning to China, I intend to read the book The Secret of Finland's Education Being Number One in the World presented by activists to every parent. If you don't attend class, you will be anxious just by reading the title. After reading this book carefully, I have to admit that Finnish education is really outstanding on the world stage, but its goodness has nothing to do with competition. But the headline of this blog doesn't prevent it from being worth reading.
? Combining the contents of the lecture and the book, I still want to share it with my parents and friends who can't come. Finnish education, wholeheartedly, tries its best to help every child find the most suitable position in life. Finland attaches great importance to the methods and modes of human nature, hoping to stimulate children's interest in learning and their understanding of the whole semester and subjects first. For example, children in China learn to swim. After a class, they may just kick their legs straight by the pool, or practice sliding their arms and occasionally float with lifebuoys. In Finland, the basic swimming class allows children and adults to "play with water" in a cheerful and relaxed situation, instead of learning to "swim" immediately. Instead of always emphasizing "standard" movements to learn freestyle and breaststroke, let everyone float and sink freely in the water waves, swim happily, and naturally experience the fun of relaxing breathing and swimming! When they broaden their horizons in the step-by-step and diversified teaching, see the general appearance of things and disciplines, and ignite their interest in continuous learning, the teacher will teach them the detailed knowledge and standard movements that need to be learned one by one.
? There are also fewer classes and exams in Finland. I believe everyone wants to pursue a happy and efficient way of life and study. Finnish primary and secondary school students have the least class hours in the world. Grade one and grade two should have no more than 5 classes per day (45 minutes each class), 65,438+09 classes per week, 23 classes per week for grades three and four, 24 classes per week for grades five and six, and 30 classes per week for grades seven to nine. There are 190 school days throughout the year, and there is no need to stay at school until seven or eight in the evening, and there is no phenomenon of going to various interest classes. Finnish children do not have a big exam before 15 years old. Even a quiz in class is a matter between students and teachers. The teacher will turn the papers over and give them to the students one by one, instead of shouting out the scores. There is no junior high school in Finland. When graduating from junior high school, children can choose to go to vocational schools or high schools according to their own interests. Even in universities, professors will publish their grades anonymously. Finland, which is the least "exam-oriented", has ranked first in the world for many years in PISA (International Student Assessment Examination).
? But this is only the study time of students, not the working time of teachers. Teachers will spend a lot of time and energy preparing lessons, or even prepare lessons in a multi-level and multi-disciplinary way to build a diversified and all-round knowledge system. For example, home economics classes teach children to do housework and laundry. First, washing is classified by material. Not only the essentials of washing clothes by hand, but also the steps of how to operate the washing machine. Also know the water temperature, hardness and composition of laundry detergent to help clean clothes. Do clothes dry or dry after washing? Ironing or laminating? It involves physics, chemistry and technology. In the classroom of home economics class, there are all kinds of kitchen knives, chopping boards and seasonings besides refrigerators, washing machines, ovens and gas stoves. Teaching equipment is unambiguous and readily available. For example, in physical education class, Finland, children have to learn to use maps and compasses from the third and fourth grades of primary school. They need to find the direction, the path and the way back to school in the forest area.
? The threshold for being a teacher in Finland is very high, the assessment is very strict, and teachers are highly respected. Since the 1970s, all teachers in primary schools and above in China have been required to have a master's degree. Normal education is all provided by research universities, and teachers need to receive at least five years of learning of educational concepts, teaching methods and teaching practice. The position of the profession of teachers in the minds of Finns even exceeds that of government officials, doctors, priests and so on. All teachers think about how to be kind to students and how to teach is most beneficial to students. They never want students or their teaching achievements to win the first place. They never want to "compete for the first place" or "grab the first place". Because the education system does not have any appraisal and evaluation of teachers. All they do is try their best to teach what they know. Everything is for the students, as simple as that.
? In fact, to sum up, the main characteristics of Finnish education are equal opportunities, teachers' autonomy, student-centered learning and learning with great life value in practice. Its essence is "teaching without distinction" and "teaching students in accordance with their aptitude". At present, elite education prevailing in western countries can be simply summarized as allocating 80% of social and educational resources to 20% of students who are already excellent, while allocating the remaining 80% of non-gifted students to the remaining 20% of educational resources. As parents in China, we all hope that our children can take an elite road, be admitted to a university featuring elite training, and engage in a very decent career representing the elite. We all want our children to be "school tyrants" rather than "school scum". Every child grows up with thousands of expectations of his parents and elders. Turning our eyes to Finland, this elite education, which is believed by many mainstream countries, has not affected Finland at all. Of course, this also has a lot to do with Finland's national conditions, population and region. What Finland sees is not a handful of elites, but a more precious and noteworthy majority. Education in Finland is extremely balanced, and the government invests social and educational resources in students, not a few talented students.
? After reading the book Education in Finland, I can't help but sigh that although Finnish education is very good, it is difficult to do it in a vast country like China, because Finland's greatest advantage lies in its small population and rich money, which we in China can't compare with. Yes, Finnish basic education is really domineering. Children in Finland can receive government gift packages from birth. Soon after a child is born, he can receive children's books donated by the government, as well as children's welfare funds, which are specially used for cultural and educational institutions such as bookstores and art galleries. For the triennial PISA (programme for international student assessment) exam, Finns compare it to measuring blood pressure, which is an occasional routine examination. This kind of education, which is relaxed, indisputable and not aimed at "winning", actually pursues the essence of good things. In Finland, children don't need to compare with others. In a child's heart, there will be no terrible "other people's children". No child will be labeled as an "underachiever", will not be regarded as a black sheep dragging down the whole class, and no one will give up on them. Because there is no need to compare with others all the time, children can be themselves and become themselves with peace of mind. To explore their own potential, to discover the value of life.
? But Finland, like a mirror, always reflects another kind of reverse thinking of seeking speed, quantity, priority and victory. Under the pressure of China's education system, modern parents are anxious, worried that their children have not learned enough, worried that their children can't keep up with the growth curve, and even more worried that their children will lose their lives at the starting point ... Under the national conditions of China, it is difficult to ignore the report card, after all, grades are linked to educational resources. However, the education in Finland can enlighten us: 1. Attach importance to basic education, so that children can get diversified and three-dimensional development; Don't be led by the nose by the report card. Don't forget that it is more important to let children be themselves and have their own happy lives.
No matter "happy education" or "hard education", the most essential purpose of education is to cultivate children. In the process of training, efforts from all sides are needed. No matter what kind of education, it definitely does not mean giving up.
3. Should life only care about winning the marathon at the starting point or the 100-meter sprint? Life is not winning the 100-meter race at the starting line, but a marathon with yourself. More important than the starting line is to teach children the ability and habit of lifelong learning and being good at thinking and summarizing.
(Part of the excerpt is from "The Secret of the Number One Education in Finland")