Compared to the rest of the world, America fairs pretty well when it comes to our education. However, only one country holds the number one spot: Finland. Oddly enough, the country spends $3,000 less per student than the United States. Not surprised. This is the country that guarantees a baby box to every child born!
So, what's really the difference between Finnish public schools and American public schools? The teachers.
In the United States, 47 percent of teachers come from the bottom third of their graduating class. In Finland, most teachers are from the top 10 percent, like doctors and lawyers in the U.S. Moreover, the approach to teaching is much different.
There are — count 'em — three teachers in every classroom. Two of the teachers work on instructing the students, and the third gives special attention those who are behind. That means every student gets the amount of attention they need, and those who are struggling, aren't dismissed as "bad students," they simply get the extra help they need.
Something else unique is that students will stay with the same teacher for years. This allows for a real community and bond to be made, whereas here, we're shuffled away from even our most favorite teachers after a year or a semester.
The dropout rate in Finland is 2 percent. In America, it's 25 percent. A few decades ago, Finland was a poor country with struggling farmers. They collectively decided that the only to prosper was to make sure each citizen had the skills to succeed in life, and it worked!
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