You can't improve education by disrespecting teachers
This was written by Greg Neiman who is a retired Red Deer Advocate editor. Follow his blog at readersadvocate.blogspot.ca or email greg.neiman.blog@gmail.com. This post was originally found here.
by Greg Neiman
These days, everyone is agog over Finland’s model for public education, which seemingly produces the brightest students in the world. Likewise, people swoon over the performance of Asian students, particularly in math and science.
Alberta students rank right up there with them, but there’s a Canadian ethos that says anything foreign must be better. So in our eyes, the Finns and the Asians rule the world today.
Except when they don’t. Red Deer educators have told me that Alberta’s public school curriculum is the top-requested program among countries looking to improve their own education systems, and international test results.
Why? Because our students are consistently top-flight, and the curriculum that brings the knowledge to the students is delivered in English.
Both Finnish and Asian languages are difficult adapt to educational policies for most nations. Alberta’s curriculum is far more adaptable to other cultures. As a result, I’m told that Alberta teachers with experience delivering our curriculum find the doors to international teaching opportunities open quickly.
That said, what are the commonalities between the programs in Finland, Asia and Alberta that a layperson can understand?
One that has been related to me — sometimes with pride and sometimes with despair — is that the role of the teacher is highly respected in top-flight programs. It takes a lot of for the love of learning: You can't improve education by disrespecting teachers:
These days, everyone is agog over Finland’s model for public education, which seemingly produces the brightest students in the world. Likewise, people swoon over the performance of Asian students, particularly in math and science.
Alberta students rank right up there with them, but there’s a Canadian ethos that says anything foreign must be better. So in our eyes, the Finns and the Asians rule the world today.
Except when they don’t. Red Deer educators have told me that Alberta’s public school curriculum is the top-requested program among countries looking to improve their own education systems, and international test results.
Why? Because our students are consistently top-flight, and the curriculum that brings the knowledge to the students is delivered in English.
Both Finnish and Asian languages are difficult adapt to educational policies for most nations. Alberta’s curriculum is far more adaptable to other cultures. As a result, I’m told that Alberta teachers with experience delivering our curriculum find the doors to international teaching opportunities open quickly.
That said, what are the commonalities between the programs in Finland, Asia and Alberta that a layperson can understand?
One that has been related to me — sometimes with pride and sometimes with despair — is that the role of the teacher is highly respected in top-flight programs. It takes a lot of for the love of learning: You can't improve education by disrespecting teachers: