Public Education

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Since it implemented huge education reforms 40 years ago, Finland's school system has consistently come at the top for the international rankings for education systems.

So how do they do it?

It's simple — by going against the evaluation-driven, centralized model that much of the Western world uses.

http://www.businessi...ol-2011-12?op=1

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

What's the population of Finland's gang bangers and hoods? Is Snookie a big thing in Finland or do they actually watch something intelligent? Does Finland have a large population of non Finnish speaking illegal immigrants? Society and culture play a large role.

Edited December 3, 2012 by Bad_Daddy

[decocker 7,198]

What's the population of Finland's gang bangers and hoods? Is Snookie a big thing in Finland or do they actually watch something intelligent? Does Finland have a large population of non Finnish speaking illegal immigrants? Society and culture play a large role.

do you have children in the public school system?

you said you're a bit of a recluse up there in alaska, so i wouldn't expect you to know what is happening academically, let alone culturally, with the majority of school aged children.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

http://www.devilslakejournal.com/article/20110429/NEWS/304299863

1 in 4 children in US raised by a single parent

By Associated Press

April 29, 2011 12:01 a.m.

MIAMI (AP) — One in four children in the United States is being raised by a single parent — a percentage that has been on the rise and is higher than other developed countries, according to a report released Wednesday.

Of the 27 industrialized countries studied by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the U.S. had 25.8 percent of children being raised by a single parent, compared with an average of 14.9 percent across the other countries.

Ireland was second (24.3 percent), followed by New Zealand (23.7 percent). Greece, Spain, Italy and Luxemborg had among the lowest percentages of children in single-parent homes.

Experts point to a variety of factors to explain the high U.S. figure, including a cultural shift toward greater acceptance of single-parent child rearing. The U.S. also lacks policies to help support families, including childcare at work and national paid maternity leave, which are commonplace in other countries.

"When our parents married, there was a sense that you were marrying for life," said Edward Zigler, founder and director of Yale's Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy. "That sense is not as prevalent."

Single parents in the U.S. were more likely to be employed — 35.8 percent compared to a 21.3 percent average — but they also had higher rates of poverty, the report found.

"The in-work poverty is higher in the U.S. than other OECD countries, because at the bottom end of the labor market, earnings are very low," said Willem Adema, a senior economist in the group's social policy division. "For parents, the risk is higher because they have to make expenditures on childcare costs."

The Paris-based organization looked at a broad sector of indicators that affected families and children, including childhood poverty, early education and amount of time spent on parental care.

Across the nations examined, preschool enrollment has grown from 30 to 50 percent between 1998 and 2007. The average enrollment was 58.2 percent, while in the U.S. it was lower.

The report noted that public spending on child welfare and education is higher in the U.S. than in other countries — $160,000 per child compared to $149,000. However, the authors say most of that money is spent after the crucial early childhood years.

"This means early investment — including childcare and support for families around the time of birth — could be strengthened," the authors wrote in a separate paper examining the United States.

The study pointed out that the U.S. is the only OECD country that does not have a national paid parental leave policy. Some states have started to adopt such policies, but most parents are offered 12 weeks of unpaid leave. This is particularly difficult for unwed mothers, who may not be able to afford to take time off, Zigler said.

"We have not built in the kind of national support systems for families and children that other countries have," he said.

Childhood poverty rates in the U.S. are also expected to climb — 23.5 percent from 20 percent. Adema said the rise is a direct result of the financial crisis and higher unemployment rates.

"The financial strain causes all sorts of other strain, so ultimately it might contribute to family dissolution," Adema said. "At the same time, it might bring some families together. I suspect that the response differs across families."

The single parent phenomenon has been occurring over recent decades. The study noted the U.S. and England have higher teenage birthrates than other countries, partially contributing to the higher single-parent numbers, though the proportion of children born outside marriage was not significantly higher than the other countries.

Terry O'Neill, president of the National Organization for Women, added it isn't being a single parent in itself that raises difficulties.

"Single moms do a brilliant and amazing job raising their children," said Terry O'Neill, president of the National Organization for Women. "It is also true that single moms in this country are systemically underpaid, and systematically under-resourced and systemically unrespected. It's not the fact they are single moms that makes things difficult."

Edited December 3, 2012 by Bad_Daddy

[decocker 7,198]

"Diversity helps US claim first prize in single parent department"

okay i have no idea what that has to do with anything.

i have an i.e.p (individual education plan) for my son, who is ten and in the fifth grade. he was diagnosed with add very young and i have never put him on medication because i don't find it necessary. the past two years, his entire curriculum has been focused on the different SOL tests. my son does horribly on any test he is given, outside of the smaller daily quizzes, like spelling and math. he can't focus or won't focus when taking long standardized tests and he scores much much lower than his ability. the teachers teach the tests and they don't have time for anything else. we definitely need a revamp of priority and let teachers get back to teaching - without "no child left behind" type micromanagement from the state.

Edited December 4, 2012 by Kathryn41
to delete insulting image

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

okay i have no idea what that has to do with anything.

i have an i.e.p (individual education plan) for my son, who is ten and in the fifth grade. he was diagnosed with add very young and i have never put him on medication because i don't find it necessary. the past two years, his entire curriculum has been focused on the different SOL tests. my son does horribly on any test he is given, outside of the smaller daily quizzes, like spelling and math. he can't focus or won't focus when taking long standardized tests and he scores much much lower than his ability. the teachers teach the tests and they don't have time for anything else. we definitely need a revamp of priority and let teachers get back to teaching - without "no child left behind" type micromanagement from the state.

You don't see a correlation in the US leading in single parent families and violent crimes committed in schools vs test scores? It's called reality.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Post containing an inappropriate and offensive image has been removed and one post edited to remove the same image. Discussion appears to be veering off the original topic which is the success of Finland's educational system, not a discussion of single mothers in the US. Remain return to the original topic.

Edited December 3, 2012 by Kathryn41

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Post containing an inappropriate and offensive image has been removed and one post edited to remove the same image. Discussion appears to be veering off the original topic which is the success of Finland's educational system, not a discussion of single mothers in the US. Remain return to the original topic.

The US education system has went to pot for various reasons and some of them even a blind person can't help but notice. When you have metal detecters in schools along with armed security gaurds that right there should say something as to what direction our youth is headed. It can't be easy to study in school when you have to worry about catching a bullet and/or being beaten half to death not to mention the drugs in schools these days.

Edited December 3, 2012 by Bad_Daddy

[decocker 7,198]

You don't see a correlation in the US leading in single parent families and violent crimes committed in schools vs test scores? It's called reality.

no. single parenting is a reality. violence is a reality. low test scores are a reality. but the reason our schools under-preform consistently is primarily lack of funding and resources.

are you a single parent?

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

no. single parenting is a reality. violence is a reality. low test scores are a reality. but the reason our schools under-preform consistently is primarily lack of funding and resources.

are you a single parent?

Lack of funding eh? Our school systems get mucho bucks, it's what's done with that money that's another story. When schools are paying premium price for Macbooks for children instead of going with a Windows version that's half the price that right there says something. You should google what kids in other countries get and what they do with it.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

http://www.wiredacademic.com/2012/02/heard-north-carolina-district-lays-off-teachers-to-buy-macbooks-for-students/

North Carolina District Lays Off Teachers To Buy Macbooks For Students

[Darnell 8,479]

Yay Finland !

Go Finland !

Kip, get her pregnant and move to Finland...

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Yay Finland !

Go Finland !

Kip, get her pregnant and move to Finland...

My uncles wife is from Finland. Blonde and totally hot well she's aged some since then but she still has it. It wouldn't go so good with my wife living there...Fins detest Russian speaking people and they don't refrain from showing it. Lots of hard feelings for the Fins towards Russian speaking people and for some good reasons.

[bsd058 296]

no. single parenting is a reality. violence is a reality. low test scores are a reality. but the reason our schools under-preform consistently is primarily lack of funding and resources.

are you a single parent?

I think both are factors in a child's development, but the major reason children succeed is primarily due to the quality of their education. The single mother/father cannot be everything to their child. It's important to have love and perspective from two parents. Sometimes a lack of a parent can contribute towards a greater risk of sub-par behavior and performance.

Though, the greater cause of ignorance (in ethics, morality, logic, etc.) is the lack of a good education. When you don't think you can do better you end up in crime, or settling for something you hate. Education should get a huge boost in spending. We need a higher number and better quality of educators! How else can we expect to make things better? People need to start caring about education and place a greater emphasis on it.

Wife is a teacher (very proud of her) and I see how a good teacher can change the lives of their students all of the time! Wish I could brag more, but I can say that the US needs more teachers who care and have an aptitude for it like her. They also need a pay raise. They do not get paid near enough for the amount of work they do! Even with summers and Christmas vacation.

When you do not give education its proper due, you cannot expect to reap an intelligent generation.

[bsd058 296]

Lack of funding eh? Our school systems get mucho bucks, it's what's done with that money that's another story. When schools are paying premium price for Macbooks for children instead of going with a Windows version that's half the price that right there says something. You should google what kids in other countries get and what they do with it.

There is a lack of funding. Definitely. Wife is a teacher. It's ridiculous the stuff they have to put up with. A lot of stuff teachers have to supply with their own money because the schools cannot afford to pay for it themselves.

Those Macbooks are a waste of money. They need more/better teachers, not better technology.