West Virginia learns Finland's 'most honorable profession': Teacher
- Only 10% of 7,000 teacher applicants to primary school programs accepted in Finland
- Finland tops international tests rankings, but doesn't use standardized tests domestically
- "It is a patriotic, national calling to be a teacher," said one Finnish teacher
(CNN) -- When newly minted West Virginia Schools Superintendent Dr. Steven Paine told parents, teachers and educators in 2005 that he wanted to use Finland as a model for their education system, he got a lot of blank stares: Finland? What, people asked, does West Virginia have to do with Finland?
The contrast couldn't be more stark: In West Virginia, many children face poverty, illiteracy and broken homes and lack easy access to health care or proper nutrition.
Finland has a largely literate and relatively homogeneous population, little immigration and almost no poverty or social problems. They also offer a vast network of social supports including free meals and health care for school children.
Still, Finland was -- and remains -- at the top of international test