Student Investment: Preparing Life-Long Learners
Steady improvement in student learning has been attained through Finnish education policies based on equity, flexibility, creativity, teacher professionalism and trust
*MORE PLAYTIME: Finnland schools provide students wit for more recess than their U.S. counterparts from 75 minutes in Finnish elementary schools versus 27 minutes for their U.S. counterparts (Thomas, 2008).
* COMPREHENSIVENESS: Implementation of basic values of equity in education including all students receiving a free two-course warm meals daily, free health care, transportation, learning materials, and counseling in their own schools (Sahberg, 2007). :
*LEARNING FOCUSED NOT TESTING: The focus of teaching is typically on learning rather than testing (Sahlberg, 2007). Students are able to enjoy coming to school to learn and not fear formal testing. As students learn and master the subject areas, in later stages, formal assessments will not be threatening but simply review of what they have been taught including criting thinking and problem solving skills.
