In The Smartest Kids in the World and How They Got that Way by Amanda Ripley, she takes us through three kids journeys through three different countries. This book walks us through Kim's journey in Finland where she watches the teaching profession being treated like it should, and Eric's journey in Korea where a strong hand and fear tactic is practiced, and lastly, Tom's journey in Poland where being wrong isn't shameful but instead an opportunity to learn. These three countries hold many differences yet they all have the highest preforming students in the world. How do they make this happen? How can the U.S. jump on board?
While learning about all of these countries one quickly realizes that there isn't one right way. With this being true, I appreciate aspects from all of the countries, and if I were creating my education utopia, I would use parts of each system.
In my education utopia, I would begin with proper teacher training. I would model Finland's practice and recreate Educations stigma. Teaching is the sole career who truly impacts each and every other career. Teachers teach doctors, engineers, dentists, you name it. So why is that teaching is seen as the easiest major in America? Why do we allow just anyone teach and create our future? In my education utopia, I would make future teachers prove themselves. And I wouldn't do this by enforcing a written test, but by having a series of real life teaching circumstances and letting them attempt to survive. Within the first few years of teaching, it truly is about surviving, so we must start this process before children's education is on the line. Not only would this help our students, but it would also help with our teacher retention problem.
My next step would be to implement Koreas seriousness for education into the equation. I don't want the main factor to be fear but fear must be involved somewhat. There must be something on the line so that students take each and every grade seriously. I don't think that we should put their careers on the line but I do think that there should be something of importance that can be threatened if they fail, such as an end of the year celebration or field trip. Students must be taught how to care through a little fear at a young age, so that by the time they are old enough to think about their careers, they already know the importance of education. Also, Korea doesn't hand out second chances. If the students preform badly at a young age, that directly affects them for the rest of their lives with no hope of fixing it. Now in the U.S. on the other hand, gives hundreds of re-dos. If a student fails the end of the year state test... no biggie, they can re-take it during the summer. This process continues itself until the child has been pushed through the education system. In my education utopia, I would find the middle of these two circumstances. Not giving any chances sets a student up for failure but so does giving too many. I would create a 5 strike system and once a child hits their 5th strike then they would have to be transferred to a school who could better meet their needs and assure their graduation.
Lastly, I would model Poland's attitude on failure. I would create a "Failure can be fun" mentality. Right now in the U.S. failure is the worst option or outcome. It's deeply feared and regretted. In my opinion, failure should be expected and learned from. Failure is the quickest way to success. If the U.S. could understand that and shift their way of thinking, then I know that our education system would advance very quickly.
We are lucky that we have an inside look at how these top preforming countries behave. Now we have the opportunity to take their strengths and leave their weaknesses. This is our chance, not let's take it! To learn more about this book and how the other countries behave check out this link
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