Finland- Days 5 & 6- Finland Finale Leads to Brainstorming Beginnings

"Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow. "

Anthony J. D'Angelo

Wednesday brought with it the last leg of our trip. The day ended with a 2 hour trip to Helsinki, where we would spend our final two days in Finland. This drive was a beautiful time to observe the landscape between Tampere and Helsinki. The open fields reminded me of the open nature with which the children are able to learn in the school system, as opposed to a finite and regimented atmosphere of rigid standards and inauthentic assessments. Two hours for reflection was a wonderful way to transition into the last few days of our educational tour.

On Thursday, we traveled to, what we thought was, another office space to hear a principal and a former teacher speak about the shared leadership that occurs in the schools. However, we were pleasantly surprised to find out that our meeting would be in the principal's own home! Not only was it an incredible experience to be able to see a Finnish flat (we even got a peek at their sauna!), but it was also such a perfect setting to speak about authenticity and collaborative leadership between all faculty at the school sites.

A few of the key ideas that were shared in this discussion have stuck with me fervently. First, these educators emphasized that the focus of the school system is on cooperation and not competition. They highlighted how the school inspections went away in the 1970s and that there are not school rankings that would pit schools against one another. Additionally, they highlighted how educational researchers are near to the profession, not far away and detached from the day to day realities of the schools. These researchers are listening, going around, working with other teachers, and the decision for new curriculum and standards is truly a collaborative process, including surveys and feedback between all parties.

After our time with the principal and former teacher, we spent time sightseeing around Helsinki. The leaders of our tour gave us a quick guided tour, with some of the most sought after sights and then opened up the time for us to venture out on our own. It is a beautiful city that is easily walkable and fun to explore. For the limited time that we had, I just meandered over to the open air market near the water. The produce popped vibrantly in contrast to the dreary skies that had formed for the first time during the trip. As the rain began to sprinkle down, I headed back to the bus to gain respite at our hotel for the evening.

Following a night of relaxation and rest, we began our last day of the tour by taking a bus to a suburb outside of Helsinki to our final school tour. This school was a Preschool-9th grade housed in a newer building. We were initially greeted by 7th-9th graders from the "representation team" who led the tour with pride and kindness. These students were able to communicate wonderfully in English and seemed genuinely delighted to show us their school and to answer our questions. We learned later that these students volunteer for this position.

The truly inclusive way that students were a part of their education was apparent throughout the tour. Not only was this clear from our middle school tour guides, but from the anecdotes shared of all the other various groups that students could be a part of, just by volunteering...no votes necessary. Many aspects of the school were developed due to student voice and opinion, including a little student run "cafe" area of the cafeteria where students could buy snacks during the day. Additionally, the projects and activities that students had completed or were working on when we were visiting all had an aspect of student choice included.

As seen in the previous school tours, tactile skills were highly valued and included as components of the school's curriculum. We saw another beautiful woodworking classroom, an inspiring art room, a home economics classroom, and a textiles room where students were busy working on their fashion designs (which included the process of selecting and ordering fabrics online). These rooms were open during break times for students to come work on any projects, class or non-class related, as well. Further evidence of the value of movement in learning included areas for gross motor sensory breaks and stationary bikes as a seating choice or break activity in the classroom. These facets created awe and excitement to those of us on the tour and yet, to our tour guides, they were just a part of being at school.

It was evident throughout the entire tour how these tactile skills were combined with the value of student voice and collaboration between all ages of students at the school. Aspects of this combination were reminiscent of my own school, where we have buddy classes with younger and older classrooms and/or school wide campaigns that would incorporate the voice and collaboration of all ages at our K-8 school. Once again, I was feeling an inspiring combination of affirmation in regards to what I am already doing in my classroom, mixed with aspirations of what next steps or goals I could be striving towards.

Our tour ended with a conversation with the principal of this school. His enthusiasm and authenticity were clear, even with his casual demeanor, as he shared about his amazing staff and students. While he showed pride in his own school, he did not try to tout that his school was any better than the other schools. Sharing the pride he had for his school was also pride for the entire Finnish system. When pressed to answer what is the "magic key" to achieving this type of system, he replied, almost immediately, "Trust." Not only does he trust that his teachers are experts in their profession and capable of getting their students where they need to be without outside formal accountability pieces but the community and government also trusts in the school system, as well.

This visit and conversation was our ending note on the tour and has stuck with me for the last month since we left. I've been thinking about how powerful any kind of relationship is that has trust. I've been thinking about how it takes time and shared experiences to gain trust. I've been thinking about how the Finnish system took 30 years, collaborative surveys, sacrifices politically for the greater good, and put energy and money into education...in order to build trust with one another. I've been thinking about how we can adopt some of the attributes from the Finnish system. However, I also keep thinking about how you cannot just "adopt" trust. Trust takes time, conversations, apologies (at times), shared goals/priorities, and a willingness to listen to differing perspectives to meet the essential goals. My mind has been in a sort of "limbo" of aspiring to have these types of conversations with our governing officials and conversely feeling a little disenchanted with how that conversation would be received. It feels that as this fantastic Finland trip ended, my mind has been perplexed with, "Where to even begin?"

While I do not have the answers to where to begin with larger systemic changes, I do continue to strive towards looking at what we are already doing right, despite systemic flaws, and building upon and sharing those positive areas. This trip created a new connection for me in that journey, as well! Besides learning from the incredible Finnish educators, I was able to meet inspiring educators from across the world on this tour. One pair of fabulous teachers I met were from Chicago. As I shared with them my desire to spend this year exploring, meeting, and collaborating with other educators from around the world, they recommended I visit a Kindergarten teacher from Chicago who had recently won a Golden Apple Award. So, not one to decline an invitation to visit a new place or an inspiring opportunity...my next stop on this adventure of a year will be Chicago! I cannot wait to share what I learn from visiting another incredible educator.