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> Could you explain the basis for that statement? I merely meant that in my experience, the school education that Norwegians get is not noticeably worse than t

> Could you explain the basis for that statement? I merely meant that in my experience, the school education that Norwegians get is not noticeably worse than the one Finnish kids get. They speak foreign languages, they can solve an equation, they know where Arkansas is. Of course this is just my view, nothing you could call a scientific view substantiated by formal research. I just see that Norwegians are generally better (knowledge-wise) educated than Americans, on level with Finns, even if the PISA ratings of Norway and USA are very close to each other and significantly behind Finland. I did not quite understand when you say you've read that students must get more 'academic' education, backed by large-scale testing, in order to compete against the countries with high PISA scores when the supposed strength of Finnish education system is lack of large-scale testing. Particularly early on - pupils generally don't even get any formal scores or ratings until 6th grade (as 13-year-old).

dalke 11y ago
I don't have the experience to judge. While I grew up in the US and live in Sweden, I've found that my personal experience isn't a good guide. Eg, my school in the US offered differential equations, Latin, and European history, which I'm told is uncommon. I also don't have an understanding of the research, so I think we'll have to leave things where they are. "I did not quite understand when you say .." Sorry, I see the confusion. I meant that in the US, in discussion about changes to the US school system, one of the arguments is how US schools need more 'rigorous' testing with a more 'academic' goal, in order to improve PISA scores. Those making this argument often point to a country like South Korea with a very academic/test-centric education system and high PISA as a model for what the US should be. Those opposed point to Finland as a counter-example. To edit what I wrote slightly, "much of what I've read coming out of the US is that US students must get [a] more 'academic' education ..."

dalke 11y ago

I don't have the experience to judge. While I grew up in the US and live in Sweden, I've found that my personal experience isn't a good guide. Eg, my school in the US offered differential equations, Latin, and European history, which I'm told is uncommon. I also don't have an understanding of the research, so I think we'll have to leave things where they are. "I did not quite understand when you say .." Sorry, I see the confusion. I meant that in the US, in discussion about changes to the US school system, one of the arguments is how US schools need more 'rigorous' testing with a more 'academic' goal, in order to improve PISA scores. Those making this argument often point to a country like South Korea with a very academic/test-centric education system and high PISA as a model for what the US should be. Those opposed point to Finland as a counter-example. To edit what I wrote slightly, "much of what I've read coming out of the US is that US students must get [a] more 'academic' education ..."