Letter to an education leader
A friend who is an education leader wrote to me that after attending a conference about Finland’s excellent education system, he was excited and wanted to adopt this system. He proposed a budget to improve the education system with more computers and equipment so students can learn more about science and technology.
I wrote to him: “If you are going to spend money to improve the education system, please spend it on the teachers. Buying more computers and equipment is NOT the solution. The best way to improve the education is to help current teachers, provide more training and reward them for their efforts. The best way to start improving the education system is to developing good teachers. I have been to Finland several times, and I know that it took them many years to improve their education system, so I think it will also take many years for your education system to change. What work in some countries may not work in others so you must be careful, not to do something too hasty.
Based on several conversations with teachers, I believed your teacher-training programs are not selective enough and leave many teachers unprepared for the job. The traditional education based on lecturing and transferring knowledge does not work well with current science and technology approach. Some teachers are assigned to teach many subjects, not all of them are familiar with. For example, a math teacher who is very good in math must teach math, not history and vice versa. We need to train teachers to specialize in a certain area, so they have the expertise to train the students. We must provide them with the content knowledge of the subjects from science, history, math, geography, and literature that they will need to teach in their classrooms. Additionally, teachers should be trained more on classroom management techniques as establishing and maintaining standards of behavior, maximizing learning time, using positive reinforcement and addressing different types of disruptive behavior.
To improve the education system, we need to move away from some “Dubious metrics” such as the high number of high school or college graduates. Higher graduation rates should be encouraged only with quality education. If more students are graduating high school or college without the basic knowledge, it will be much worse. After all, degrees are just pieces of paper; they do not necessarily mean that students have mastered essential knowledge or skills. If we only try to get students to graduate by lowering the standard, what do you think our society would be in the future?
Improving technology knowledge does not necessary means we need to buy more computers. In fact, having more computers in school without having good teachers is more likely to get students distracted by other things such as video games, YouTube, and other bad websites. You can improve students’ skills by having good teachers who can give them more practice rather give them more computer and software. Technology skills begin with a good foundation such as reading, writing, and math NOT with machines. Students who read more, write more, and spend more time and efforts in learning will do well, regardless of what subject they choose.
To improve the education system, everything begins with good teachers, so my recommendation is to focus your budget on supporting your teachers.
Sources
- Blogs of Prof. John Vu, Carnegie Mellon University
