I was able to visit and observe in three schools in and outside of Helsinki while I was there last winter.
Initially I wanted to visit Finnish schools because I was curious about the Finnish educational system. I had heard people talk about how progressive and successful Finnish schools are.
Before I chronicle my personal experiences in subsequent posts I wanted to explore international perceptions of Finnish society in regards to two systems: education and incarceration. To quote Gandhi, ‘The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members’.
A Washington Post article attempts to frame the hype around Finnish education:
“If you have paid any attention to the education debate in this country during the past dozen years or so, you’ve heard that students in Finland score at or near the top of international test scores, time and time again. You may know that, among other things, Finland has no standardized tests, starts formal reading instruction at age 7, requires all general teachers to have a master’s degree and makes sure no student goes hungry.”
This video from BBC explores the role of “trust” within the Finnish system- the mutual trust between students and teachers as a factor in pedagogical success.
This national attitude of support & respect towards citizens extends beyond the educational system. Finland is also known for it’s “gentle justice” prison system. Justice is “gentle” because convicted prisoners have rights. There is also a practical and compassionate approach toward gradual reintegration into society.
From a 2012 research publication: “As far as methods of punishment go, the Finns believe in fines, short sentences, open prisons, and heavy emphasis on gentle social rehabilitation.” As a result, “Finland has one of the lowest per capita crime rates in the world, as well as significantly lower rates of recidivism as well.”
About 1/3 of Finnish prisoners are rehabilitated in open prisons. In these open prisons there aren’t “gates, locks, or uniforms.” From Public Radio International, regarding Kerava Open Prison in Kerava, Finland:
There aren’t any gates, locks or uniforms — this is an open prison. Everyone at the Kerava open prison applied to be here. They earn about $8 an hour, have cell phones, do their grocery shopping in town and get three days of vacation every couple of months. They pay rent to the prison; they choose to study for a university degree in town instead of working, they get a subsidy for it; they sometimes take supervised camping and fishing trips.
If you’d like more information on these policies and perceptions:
Washington Post article:
On Gentle Justice approach in Finland:
https://epublications.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1057&context=socs_fac
Information on Kerava Open Prison:
https://www.pri.org/stories/2015-04-15/finlands-open-prisons-inmates-have-keys
The living learning experience 