5 Finnish Education Myths DEBUNKED

I tackle five glaring myths about Finnish education while being ridiculous, gathering fiber, and dancing my pants off. Except my pants definitely remained on.
Instagram: / tylerwaltonvlogs

[@Pahis1]

1) That has confused me as well. I've always had home work. 2) According to wikipedia there were 75 private shools in 2007. I have never met anyone who went to private school nor have I ever even seen one. 3) The 9th grade test was atleast at my school more like "let's see how you might compare to others, but lets throw the results in the bin afterwards". The after high school test is quite important. That doesn't mean everything (and you can retake it). 4) My mother was a teacher and I can testify that they don't get paid royally and their work is VERY hard compared to the pay If they wish to be good. 5) What are you saying about my mother?

[@dimsdims6951]

agree👍

[@yksiloituminen]

I go to private school in Finland so now you know that you've kinda "met" one. And I've been there since first class, so I haven't ever been in a public schools or what do you call them..?

[@Sakutora]

Same, never seen a private school, nor met anyone who goes to one, but then again, I lived in a rather small city.

[@saviourag]

But have you met anyone who's been to a public school? Cause it's starting to sound a bit like there are two Finlands, not one.

[@yksiloituminen]

+Saviour Sam Agius if you are talking to me then yes, I know a lot of people who goes to public schools because there is a lot more of them than private schools.

[@brokenguardianangel8575]

Every teacher in Finland have to have master's degree. You may be able to be a part time teacher without it, but i dont think so.

[@IlotikkuFiN]

+Shadow of Horse If I'm not totally mistaken, you can teach in vocational school without master's degree.

[@brokenguardianangel8575]

+Tuutulaulu no you still have to get a master's degree

[@Mkoivuka]

+Shadow of Horse +Tuutulaulu You're probably talking about AMK - ammattikorkeakoulu which is somewhat parallel to University. "Amis" or ammattikoulu or "vocational school" do NOT necessitate master's degrees. www.kuntatyonantajat.fi/fi/sopimukset/opettajat/ammatillinen-koulutus/Sivut/ammatillisten-opettajien-kelpoisuudet.aspx

[@BoloH.]

But you can lecture in university without master's degree.

[@DavidAndrewsPEC]

Yep. I was doing that for a while as an undergraduate. I was actually lecturing my year group in an applied psychology lecture course.

[@jonnenne]

The 9th year tests did not affect us at all when we took them. They were actually voluntary (or that you could refuse to take them). The next step was determined by our grades from our normal subjects (like biology, history etc). I don't think it has changed so you might be a bit wrong on this subject.

[@jonnenne]

+jonnenne Only "high stakes" tests are the ones that are at the end of the upper secondary school (matriculation tests/ylioppilaskirjoitukset) and possible entrance exams. However, these are after the mandatory schooling.

[@SLRNT]

for me it was voluntary

[@jonnenne]

for everyone it is voluntary. The 3rd commentor just was too simple to understand it.

[@jonnenne]

***** Heh, it isnt voluntary for ppl who don't realise it is.

[@MrMiggoH]

It is voluntary.

[@ZakFarley]

You should end your Vlogs with "We are Finnished for today" get it

[@paanikki]

Unfortunately you failed miserably when trying to be funny. We finns are more than fed up hearing english speaking people making the finish/finnish puns. When a million other people have used the same joke, it is more irritating than funny. So, I'm happy he is not using that phrase.

[@Skelloween]

That was funny stop being a bore.

[@anysmilers7725]

Skelloween its rlly annoying tho

[@MrVara411]

Waaaah. I thought it was funny. Perhaps delicate Finns aren't the target audience?

[@Kledos]

Zak Farley 420 liker

[@Cyberspine]

Teachers in Finland get paid less than their American counterparts, except: -They have far less student loan debt than American teachers. Most of them graduate as teachers without any debt. -They don't have to pay for health insurance, since there is functional public healthcare. -The schools are better funded, so they are better equipped to do their jobs and teach the kids, which leads to a far more pleasant work environment.

[@Cyberspine]

***** I know how the Finnish tax system works, since that's where I live. The schools I went to, and especially the teachers there were good and dedicated, and I think that's more valuable than the difference in taxes I have to pay.

[@twalton]

Thanks for the insight!

[@martinxy1291]

@@Cyberspine Tell that to my nation (Argentina). Not only is debt already a thing the second you are born, your nation sucks at keeping itself together and your pay is carp like every other profession. Its no mystery why most schools have had some teacher literally lose their shit

[@metrorealty7631]

Public school teachers do not pay for healthcare.

[@muslimlovesjesus9772]

Seems that Finnish people are happy with their educational system, unlike other countries where the educational system is often pointed out as responsible for social regression,,,,

[@samunasi2370]

well we do have the best educational system in the world or so I've heard

[@Smuglu]

Well people do like to throw that saying around (especially Finns), and we do have a good education system, but saying it's the best is kinda overstatement. Finland has scored highly in the PISA tests, but that's about it. There are many other international tests that Finland hasn't done as well.

[@Unlyricallyrics]

Finnish students sure get homework but you never have to do it. At least I didn't when I was in school :D Also matriculation exams don't count for much, for universities you get in if you do well in entrance exams. I think the reason why Finnish education system is good like it is, is because it is developed by experts of the field not politicians. Similar to Finland's prison system.

[@twalton]

Thanks for the insight!

[@9yearoldepicgamersoldier129]

Wth are you talking about we did have to do them

[@martinxy1291]

wait so its volanary?.......fml

[@oltzu5206]

well hell yeah we have to do it.

[@Scandilady]

I must say this again : In the USA 7% of the High School grads can't find the USA on a world map.

[@keithlarsen7557]

Because there is no USA country on World map, because it is not USA , but Estados Unidos de America Norte, key pinche Eskimo go carve some wood.

[@VJScope]

Eskimo? Wrong continent dude...

[@Jaakko_Ruotsalainen]

He's part of the 7% so it's no surprise...

[@Arzgah]

Well, he said in spanish, guess.

[@Kamekki]

Eskimo? I think this proves the the OP's case.

[@LottaLiisaAurora]

"But for now, let's dance" - I think we have our catchphrase right there! Also, thank you for debunking these myths! I'm so tired of explaining this stuff to people. We have a (mostly) good education system here but it's not how they potray it abroad. Oh how I wish teachers got paid as well as doctors...

[@Vunce_]

+Lotta Aurora Was about to write the same thing about the catchphrase, but the only problem is: He doesn't always dance in the End of a video :/. He could start doing so, though ;).

[@LottaLiisaAurora]

Vince Dancing in the beginning, middle and end! :D

[@Vunce_]

+Lotta Aurora Deal. :D

[@Mkoivuka]

+Lotta Aurora www.terve.fi/laakarikirja/miksi-laakari-tekee-itsemurhan Call it a "hazard benefit", doctors are one of the few professions that don't get to not do overtime. Sure, teachers can have it tough, but at least they get to go home every night, and can go on strike if they don't. Doctors? Yeah. Overtime comes with the territory, and so does the suicide rate.

[@mustekkala]

I think he should shout "Jumalautavittusaatana" at the end of every video, it is kinda like "cowabunga" here in Finland

[@mariposadepapelteatro]

I work as a teacher in Ecuador and I've studied in Iceland and Spain. Just the idea of making a funny video is a huge innovation...in all the countries I studied teachers take themselves too seriously. I always say to my students don't take yourself too serious allow yourself to be ridiculous...allow yourself to try and to fail....if teachers in Finland can laugh at themselves they have the best education

[@twalton]

Thanks! I feel quite the same. I think there's quite a diverse group of teachers here in Finland, some on the more serious side and some on the more, well, 'Tyler end' of the spectrum. :P

[@Finntoga]

guagualinda 1

[@martinxy1291]

Here in argentina my class drove our health teacher to maddness after having to deal with us for 2 years....still dont know what happend to the baldy, he was spitting image of the exact oppiste of a Finish teacher. In other words a drill Sargent

[@MrNakki]

I think the myth that Finnish teachers get paid like doctors etc is because the profession is a highly respected one on par (or even higher than) doctors according to studies that come out ever so often.

[@vop4813]

well youcant find the respection now a days. Like last corona year, teacher worked really hard and now goverment says that yah schools need tobe open so student can catch up whit the lock down studies.When achually the teachwr made sure the kids did learn those thing atthe time. Past 5 years teacher has only get "bigger salary" in the media when actually those "pay rises" has been a bluff because they just made the salory evwn smaller. Also teacher don't get a corona-suplement with their salary

[@paanikki]

You pointed some myths that needed to be corrected. The "no homework" and "no testing" are just headers originally made by american journalists, while the reality is "much less homework than in other OECD PISA top countries" and "no regular, standardized testing". Thanks for adding the written corrections of your hasty claims, I hope more than just a few watchers actually noticed and read them. The nationwide tests at the end of 9th grade have very little (if any) effect in the grades in the graduation diploma, or future school choices. Even the matriculation exam at the end of upper secondary school (senior high school) does not determine what the kids can do in the future and what not. In the finnish system, there are several paths to future studies. You can go to a less popular upper secondary school if you have below average grades, and still get the high quality education and skills to enter any top university program. Heck, you can even enter university studies WITHOUT having gone to upper secondary school and without the matriculation exam. So, going to a vocational college to become a carpenter or car mechanic does not mean you can't apply to a polytechnic, university master program or even doctor program later in your life if you so wish. The path is longer, but it is still there. And still without tuition fees.

[@koski6508]

you look like young version of misha collins

[@hanimonki]

I thought the same thing!

[@twalton]

Thanks!

[@abdulmoizayyaz]

Hahaaa yh lol

[@9yearoldepicgamersoldier129]

Lmao now i can't unsee it 😂

[@Jouzou87]

Any idea where the "no homework" myth originated? Anyone who's even remotely familiar with Finnish schools should definitely know better.

[@MyGeniusFriend]

All I personally know is that my younger brother who was on spec ed didn't receive homework - for _weekends_.

[@MaggaraMarine]

I guess it may have something to do with the new curriculum. And I have heard of teachers who don't specifically give homework, but they give the students all the tasks in the beginning of the course and there's so much to do that at least most people have to do something at home. But this gives more responsibility to the students - they can choose when they are going to do the tasks.

[@Katydiaz170]

Maybe because of all the documentaries or videos on youtube spreed through out the world, we peruvians had that myth too

[@learningtofish7036]

Michael Moore promoted that myth. Like many others he promotes, they get traction with self proclaimed socialists and emotionally motivated people

[@jannevaatainen]

Never heard any of these myths, but then again, I live in Finland.

[@fanvafult]

I've never even heard of those 9th grade-tests, haha. And I'm born and raised in Finland :)

[@Donari]

eiks teil ollu pisa kokeit vai mitä ne oli?? ei ne keskiarvoo vaikuttanu mut meil oli joku 4 sellast eri aineista

[@fanvafult]

Yes, we had PISA-tests, but we didn't have them in 9th grade, it was like 8th grade I think, and not everyone did them, only a few randomly selected participated. I never did them, a friend of mine did though. In the video he's talking abut some other test that actually influence your grades and influence which high school you can go to, I've never heard of them, have you? :) Anteeks että kirjoitan englanniksi, oon suomenroutsalainen ja olen asunut Ahvenanmaalla ja Ruotsissa noin 7 ja 6 vuotta nyt, valitettavasti olen unohtanut aika paljon suomea :(

[@thelastwish558]

I did math test atleast at 9th but I dont remember the reason why. but only like one or two guys did it from my class wity me

[@jaanaenkerro445]

Never heard of pisa tests but we had matikan, enkun ja ruotsin valtakunnaliset and some years a Finnish valtakunnalinen too in 9th grade

[@TM-ng2bz]

I think he propably meant "valtakunnalliset kokeet". Those everyone has (during 9th grade) I think, but they don't determine which school you can continue to or anything like that. At least my experience is that they affect your grade same as any other test. The only difference is that they compare you to the whole finland and not just your school.

[@TZMRussia]

He looks as crazy english teacher in Finland))

[@twalton]

It's what I do....

[@catchbay]

I'm 50- years old finnish and father of two (15&17 years) and son of the teacher. I have at least 3 relatives who are teachers. So I think that I have something to say about this topic. Myth 1: No homework. As you said, that's not correct. But the amount of the homework is less than what it was 5, 10 or 35 years ago. Myth 2: Private schools. As you said we have those and it's even legal to teach your children at home. Why not? This is not communist country like sweden... Families from sweden moves to finland (to place called Ahvenanmaa) to do homeschooling. It's possible to work at Stockholm and live at finland... It takes some effort but if you want to do homeschooling your swedish children you can do at the finland. There is private finnish schools even at abroad which get money from government. No finns left behind. Myth 3: As you said, after the 9th year your grades are the way to high school. And those are grades from the whole year, not just one test. After high school, your grades help to get place for university etc. If you're people of minority, that means swedish speaking finn, then it's easier for you. Some finnish speaking finns goes to swedish speaking schools because it's easier - if you can speak swedish. So those guys are not smart - they just can speak swedish. Myth 4: Rich teachers. No they are not as you said. But they get 12 months salary for less than 9 months work... Myth 5: Smart/stupid teachers. Won't comment that one.

[@IlotikkuFiN]

+catchbay Just a fun fact: According to YLE Swedish speaking Finns are one year behind in PISA results compared to Finnish speaking Finns. They sure need those quotas ...

[@aritakalo8011]

case 2) Private, but non-profit. Making business out of publicly available and applicable education is illegal in Finland (private training courses etc. are a different matter). The school mentioned in video must be one of the few international school. They are essentially not part of Finnish system at all and are allowed to ask tuition. They are only licensed under Finnish system with a big asterisk next to them, because it is illegal to have unlicensed school in Finland. So government gives them license under Finnish government and then says do whatever you want, as long as you don't start providing general education to Finnish kids. We don't care what you do with the foreign diplomat's kids (for whom these are mostly meant for). These schools are meant for foreigners in Finland, but some internationally minded Finns do attend and as he mentioned even though they don't have to many follow the Finnish National Curriculum. not because they have to, but because it is a good basic curriculum. No school teaching on official languages of Finland is allowed to ask tuition. They are all government funded and thus must be non-profit, licensed by government and follow Finnish national curriculum. Only thing they pretty much are allowed to decide is their teaching methods and if they want include extra stuff on top the National Curriculum. Likewise home schoolers must follow the national curriculum and at extreme the municipality can force the home schooled kids to normal school, if municipality thinks the parents are doing really bad job at the education or don't follow national curriculum (you can teach extra, but you can't ignore and leave out stuff mentioned on National curriculum.). This is because the kids right to decent education is considered more important than the parents right to home school.

[@jm-holm]

Not sure where you've found that information as I couldn't google it. According to the info I found Swedish and Finnish speakers are now equal in mathematics and problem solving (2012) while Finnish speakers are ahead in science and literacy. Science and literacy happens to be the 2 subjects that Finland score top of the world in as well. Regarding the scores they've been dropping for both Finnish and Swedish speakers over the years but they're declining faster for the Finnish speakers. Therefore it's not really a case of Swedish speakers catching up but Finnish speakers getting worse at a faster rate. ktl.jyu.fi/en/recent-news/t301014

[@catchbay]

Before you yell the R-word, please calm down and think why "finns" are now more stupid than before when usually people get smarter after the generations. There are a lot of new children whose parents don't have the same gene pool as the locals. This is small country so few thousand can make a different. If you look what has happened to this country for last 20 years you can see that there are now a lot of new children whose origins are not from here and which are first time part of the PISA. The JYU study show that now the people from Åland (isolated area, population which is 100% Swedish speaking finns, won't accept people from mainland) have made a good job against the mainland. That doesn't mean that people living at there are now suddenly smarter than before. Åland is the only place in Finland which has the right to not to get any "refugees". There is no one from other "culture". (Sounds like Darwin and Galápagos Islands..). The local charts are made for 1) Swedish speaking finns and 2) for the rest. The "new finns" are mostly at the finn-speaking schools... If you look old IQ statistics you can see that Swedish (the real one who are living at Sweden) are superior to finns. The modern PISA shows something else. Why? Maybe something to do that there are a lot of "new Sweds"... But you can't say that. You can't do two charts at the Sweden. One for the children whose parent's have been there for generations and one for those who have been there maybe max 2 generations and have no need to challenge their brains - everything is there for no effort. Why there is so big IQ difference between real Sweds, finns and Swedish speaking finns - you can check it out by yourself or denied the truth. Hint: small isolated population degenerates. Look the map, study the history.

[@catchbay]

You really didn't denied what I said? That's odd :-) You gave more information for the subject which is good. At the abroad there are "Finnish" schools, some of those get money from our government and some not. Which schools get the money and which not? That's good Q but I won't go deeper for that at here. Those who do not get are funded by the parents or the local community. At the "homeland :-)" we DO have private schools. Schools which have the power to pick or reject the children. And they are not looking the children, they are looking the parents... Of course they can't ask money from the families DIRECTLY but we all know how it works... The major player say it at their own page: www.steinerkoulu.fi/index.php?page=mitamaksaa (translation: school is free BUT....) I was for public school for every one, but I'm not anymore. Maybe I can do something if/when I get grandchildren.

[@annakuosmanen7844]

Another great video (and totally worth the wait)! As a future teacher, I find it very frustrating to read these kinds of myths floating around the internet, because there are actually some very valid reasons as to why Finnish education is so highly appreciated, and these statements are simply not true, which kinda takes away from the credibility of the system. So a big kiitos to you for debunking the myths! :)

[@catchbay]

+Anna Kuosmanen Check youtube channel "Katie In Finland". She is teacher from New Mexico and came to finland over year ago. Living at Jyväskylä right now.

[@twalton]

Thanks! I'm glad to hear you enjoy the content. :)

[@hanimonki]

I'm so happy about your way of making this video, because i've seen too many people just discussing these things without the facts, actual experience or knowledge of the matter. I mean yes, of course everyone can talk about anything and upload it to the interwebs (lol) but they do too often come across as "i came to finland and saw that this thing is different than in my country and i don't understand but i'm just gonna talk about it's absurdy without getting to know more and learn about it." U know? I bet u know. Also taking my enterance exam to Helsinki university tomorrow! Fingers crossed 😁

[@UnclePutte]

Lykkyä pyttyyn!

[@eduardoxmenezes]

you made a good point. Every country has its own system. Good luck for your exam

[@twalton]

Thanks! I hope you got into the university!

[@mattiheikkila3778]

hooray! About the 9th grade exam. It is national, but it depends on the schools if they want to test the pupils. My school took English and maths, some took none. Have a nice one!

[@annbellgrau]

+Matti Heikkilä I think my school did only the math test but it's kinda pointless because it doesn't matter, it doesn't affect your grades or if it does, it's only a small part of your grade

[@bratatouille]

I only had the maths test but the pupils who have German or French had the test for it too.

[@jonnenne]

+Sorbet The actual idea is for the system to check how did they do. So in a way gather some grades from around Finland to be sure the students are alright. So it is not for students per se.

[@aritakalo8011]

Yeah the only reason those test are done is statistics gathering. As far as I understand they even anonymize out the schools from the results. All they want is a set of exams data across Finland to make statistical check, that the overall year class is performing at normal level. It has no effect on the school or the student, unless the school itself decides to count it as normal 9th year test just like any other or wants to internally use it to compare between years. Any extra weight given to it is purely a matter of schools own choice.

[@twalton]

Thank you for the insight!

[@TheBcoolGuy]

Video starts at 1:30

[@petrarock7695]

Thank you! I was born and raised in Finland and got all my education there. Over 10 years ago I moved to the UK and keep hearing about the amazing no-homework and no-testing education system that Finland has which has left me utterly baffled. Have the schools changed so much since my primary school days in 1990s and early 2000s? I asked some of my acquaintances who are teachers and they confirmed that those tales are a load of bollocks. But it's good to see someone busting the myths more publically as well.

Private schools are quite marginal in Finland. They probably educate much less than 5% of Finnish children. The private high schools in Helsinki are quite an exception. Most Finnish municipalities have no private schools at all. Larger cities usually have a private Steiner school or a Christian school but most of children in cities too go to public schools. Getting to establish is a private school in Finland is quite rigorous process but after the school is approved it can also get municipal funding.

[@kyreshlcsw2229]

Thats your catch phrase "JOIN THE MOVEMENT -- DANCE":

[@lolasbf1999]

Most people watching videos about Finland are Finnish.

[@twalton]

Yes, it's interesting that I made a video debunking myths that many Finns had no idea even existed. lol I'm not sure I'm reaching the target audience. XD

[@SaintMorteus]

At last, someone finally telling the reality of Finnish education. After years of both Finnish and outside media promoting the educational system of Finland by spreading nothing but fallacies, all of which you mentioned, it's relieving to hear someone say some truth. It's obvious that Finland wants to seem significant among other countries by capitalising on it's only high statistic that means anything to people outside the country. Recently short documentary was released by some British media company, where they interviewed the staff and teachers of my old school. I was absolutely filled with rage, as they spouted claims such as, "we give lots of free time", " we give hardly any homework", and "we only want them to be happy", after four years of the complete opposite. Anyway, well done on your videos and continue producing more.

[@jonnenne]

+Mortti Minkkinen It ain't Finland who is spreading the falsehoods lol. It is some american leftist magazines and publications.

[@aakka-p]

in Finland, teachers aren't paid like lawyers, lawyers are paid like teachers.

[@kinzaz123]

Hi! I have never heard the claim that teachers in Finland are paid as much as doctors and lawyers. But what I have heard, is that teachers here are respected as much as doctors and lawyers and are paid a decent salary..

[@Gyrmyth]

"I am the teacher Finland deserves, but not the one it needs right now"

[@twalton]

I'm the inverse batman

[@kipstanswjego6678]

Myth number 3 is also dealt with by the Top Ten list. They didn't mention the "9th grade test." However, such a testing system has been the case across Europe and in the Far East for a real long time. In the late 1960s, the woman who became my wife took specialized language courses at a kind of "business-trade" school and went on to become a quadrilingual secretary for a Swiss-American company. In the 90s, one of my Taiwanese students got to go to the top all-girls' high school in Hsinchu; I visited, observed classes, and talked with teachers. Another of my students chose not to attend a higher level school but one in his neighborhood for which he was slightly "over qualified." He went on to a top Taiwanese university, onto an MA in Boston, and a doctorate at Claremont. We had a similar kind of test when I was growing up in California in the mid-60s, but it was for students at parochial schools to attend the top Jesuit high school. I opted for the public h.s. in my neighborhood, where we had a two-tier system, one mainly for Hispanic kids shunting them to vocational-education courses and one mainly for (upper-middle-class whites (and the 3 upper-middle-class black kids in my class of 700) to go on to university. And so on. All systems seem to have a means of separating students into different programs of study.

[@roppis9258]

As a student in Finland I totally agree to having homework and tests. I mean, a lot less than in other countries and less of that "learn this specific test and don't learn anything creative" homework.

[@JuhQman]

Another thing about the matriculation test is that you can actually re-take all of the tests once so at least on the first try the pressure isn't that high. I, for example, re-took Swedish and got it two grades higher.

[@kipstanswjego6678]

Myth number 4 about salary is maybe like the log-cabin myth. None of the sites that I looked at said they got PAID the same as doctors or lawyers. What the sites mentioned was that they were respected like doctors and lawyers. That's definitely the case in the Far East, where teachers are second to doctors and, now, high tech folks, but ahead of lawyers, but there's a reason for that: Lawyers in the Far East play quite different roles in society, because it's difficult to sue someone, mainly because people are expected to work out problems on their own. I went to court in Taiwan over an assault near my school by some drunk buffoon. It was the judge, the defendant, and me. I had to conduct my business with a representative and entirely in Chinese. The judge accepted my claim, which was for the cost of going to the hospital for an x-ray, plus damages--all of which the defendant was eager to pay, since he got off so very lightly by anyone's standards. I mention this because a thug respected a teacher, even a foreign one. Now, when I was in Finland (1972, if memory serves), teachers out in the countryside where I visited were quite competent at teaching English, and the kids I talked with were eager. At that time, the farming family I lived with (and helped with the haying) had a husband who spoke Finnish, Swedish, English, and a smattering of German; a wife who spoke Finnish, Swedish, German, and a smattering of English; and Grandma, who spoke Finnish, Swedish, and Russian--no German or English. (My only regret was, I didn't know at the time who Sibelius was--hence in part my interest in the topic of Finland.)

[@Dewkeeper]

I think the quality of the educational system really boils down to flexibility and purposeful design. Instead of forcing a one-size-fits-all scheme, students are always the driving force behind the actions taken. It doesn't matter what the situation has been so far, there's always an avenue to progress in a direction of your choosing. The reason almost everyone has a masters, as you mentioned, is because the system will work around your life rather than the other way around. Way less expenses and drop outs at every tier, and a better overall quality because people's self esteem and finances aren't beaten into the dirt for stepping out of line. Any surprise that people realize how much money a masters degree will get you and then, y'know, actually get one? The utopian myths are certainly absurd and it's not even remotely perfect, but it is objectively better than the authoritarian shit the US is pulling at K-12 levels, and the absurd prices of tertiary education.

[@twalton]

Thanks for the insight!

[@ironicallyscreaming]

Something that might add on to the "smartest teachers in the world" thing is that teachers are required at least 6 years of education source: my actual teachers

[@epicwarding]

They are actually considering at the moment to get rid of homework completely, a city called Espoo (next to Helsinki) has several schools who are allready removeing homework from school - also they are removeing books aswell and moveing more to digital education with laptops and tablets

[@twalton]

Interesting! Yes, with the curriculum reform lots of changes are happening.

[@thejoyofpainting2911]

Teachers have the perk of having long breaks and holidays just like students.

[@user-ky6zl7qc7m]

Also i had no test in 9th grade. You get test if you apply for high schools which are concentrating for one subject. For example, if there is sport high school, you will need to do physical test and so on.

[@iirismaki8241]

I live in Finland and I didn't know that we have private schools D:

[@apburner1]

Thank you for clearing this up. I have been in turmoil about these myths for at least 30 seconds.

[@twalton]

Glad to oblige ;)

[@enenenergp]

When I was in elementary school in finland we got a lot more of of homework compared to lower secondary or high school, which is a bit more independent depending on teacher. There's no "high stakes testing", the national test weighed only 10% in our subject grades in our ninth year, and to me that's not very "high". But because it was a new thing and seemed really official everyone kind of stressed about it, and of course it was like a onetime thing so I guess you can't retake it just like that. ALSO on many, probably most university lines you can get to without going through high school at all and having matriculation examination grades, by just preparing for the entrance exam and doing very well in it and having some other merits. So really, any grades in finland count a LOT less than in most other countries.

[@twalton]

Thanks for the insight! This is helpful to know. :)

[@slangoftheregions]

Darn, Prince Ea came out with a video and said Finland doesn't give homework. Thanks for the clarification

[@konari88]

Im in sixth grade and we have over 3 tests every week

[@yt_prakhartiwari0]

which country?

[@sharwinsnelson9995]

Does anyone have any information about the Finnish teacher training program? How long is the program and what type of support is offered for new teachers, such as mentors? With regards to high school, are most of the classes taught with one teacher or more and what is the average class size?

[@twalton]

Here's a link to the subject teacher education programme in English. www.helsinki.fi/teachereducation/step/

[@Pyllymysli]

Private schools are kind of rare in finland tho. I went to steiner school, but I don't know any other major ones. Which one do you teach in?

[@Oivariini02]

There is quite many private schools for example in Helsinki. But it is "different kind of private" than for example in UK. Private schools get funding from goverment even though they are private. Normally these schools have some extra subjects that they teach more: music, art sport.

[@kipstanswjego6678]

Myth number 2 about "no private schools" also seems to be a Michael Moore suggestion. But on the Top Ten website discussion of Finland's schools, they say exactly what you say: there are private schools--but they are subsidized. So I don't know who is feeding you the myths.

[@BabylonPatrol]

in germany 'the myth' is that teachers in finland are not as highly paid as in germany but admission tests are hard, especially due to stringent suitability standards and therefore highly respected. this in turn serves to attract motivated & capable people, interested to invest into learning the craft of being a good teacher over a long period. - would you say that this is fair?

[@anjubatus]

I'm in high school in Finland right now. We got lots of mandatory homework in elementary and middle school, probably to teach us how to study at home and responsibilities and stuff... but right now, atleast in my high school, pretty much any homework we are given is optional (depending on the teacher and the course, it might be mandatory but we also might not get any at all). Usually in subjects like maths the students know themselves that they won't get far if they don't do any work outside of school and can decide for themselves how much they need to do, and so our teacher never really asks us if we've done our homework. Essays are another thing though...

[@meihumenn]

Hi! So I have been researching about how American schools and Finnish schools compare and was just wondering if you could help me out. I've been trying to figure out the average amount of homework Finnish students get assigned, but every website I look at just says that they don't get any, but like you and many others have said, that is not true. I also have been trying to find out how many hours students go to school for in Finland. If you or anyone for this matter could tell me, I would really appreciate it.

[@jemleye]

"But now, let's dance" -> There's your catchphrase man, you're very welcome :)

[@twalton]

Yes! ;)

[@virvalehmusvuori1469]

Loved your video! But in my school there was no exam in 9th grade that let me know where i could go to study, i mean i did go to this one private schools exam to find out if i could go there but i'm not sure if you meant that... anyway keep up the good work!

[@twalton]

+Alyssa Shipley Interesting! Perhaps I'm perpetuating a new myth! I'll look into it and make a notation. Thanks for commenting!

[@juhanikohmo5696]

+Tyler Walton Well we do have these national tests, atleast in math (dont remember any others) but they don't determine where we will continue from that point on. The Average grade from our full middleschool diploma or some subjects plus entry tests in some schools determine the next place to study in. Btw great videos! keep it up :)

[@SaintMorteus]

+Alyssa Shipley Assuming he's only experienced the system of the school he teaches, which I go to, I believe he's referring to that school's final exams in 9th grade. When I arrived as a high school student, they mentioned that the former 9th graders would have a better idea of how the high school system works, with exams at the end of each semester. All other comprehensive schools, including my own, probably don't have any final exams, but rather tests scattered throughout the school year.

[@virvalehmusvuori1469]

+Mortti Minkkinen okey that makes sence, thanks

[@TM-ng2bz]

I think he maybe meant "valtakunnalliset kokeet", but they don't determine where you can continue to any more than any other exams. It's just a way to compare you to the whole Finland instead of that school.

[@kipstanswjego6678]

Glad to help you out on myth number 1. It's part of a Michael Moore film in which he interviewed teens from one school who said they had little to no homework. No one else supports the broad claim, as far as I can tell. On the contrary, school systems in which I worked in the Far East gave little homework: Japan, Korea, Taiwan. One reason for that is that most students attend what are called "cram" schools after school, often at their own insistence, not necessarily that of their parents. A couple of days a week it's math, a day or two science, a day or two English, a day or two music... I know what you're thinking, they have weeks longer than 7 days. Really, it's some overlapping, where they attend two different classes a day. (I taught 5 years in Japan, 3 in Korea, and 9 in Taiwan. People I know from the latter two countries say the situation is the same or similar today.) When I lived in Hawaii, incidentally, children of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean heritage went to school on Saturday to study their family's language, mainly the literary language and the use of traditional writing (Chinese characters, the kana systems, and Hangul, respectively). Maybe the high ranking that students from these cultures have in math and in science has something to do with their discipline in studying language, as well. Another high achieving group in the US are students who study Hebrew. There may be a correlation between valuing language study (and study of one's traditional family culture) with high performance in other disciplines. Just a thought,

[@wopmf4345FxFDxdGaa20]

What the "private schools don't exist" means is that 99% of people go to public school. The amount of people that do a private school, is very small. So if you look at the PISA ratings, good success in them can't be said to be because of private schools.

[@iwillnutonyourlasagna4152]

they say you don't get homework in Finland because you get alot less homework in here.

[@vop4813]

The homework thing is that in Finland the homework is about important subjects and not hours of colouringpicture (like in somecountries)

[@oldmanfromscenetwentyfour8164]

I never heard any of those myths about Finland's education.

[@TVRadioClube]

Nice to see this video. I had this idea about homework there. What made me think I was been too strict about my students not doing their homework

[@julqu]

As a Finn, we always had homework. (but I managed mostly without doing those in elementary and hs). But then it turned out really hard to get in to senior hs after that, you are right about that. They rank students by their success in elementary and junior hs. But I still appreciate very much the fairness of it, every child can either work hard or not, and it's not about money.

[@Rbarnes-rf7cz]

as being a 8th grader in Finland I barely ever get home work like maybe 1 paper a week

[@twalton]

Thanks for the insight!

[@TheZhukee]

The thing with private schools is that they can't be making profit. So yes, we do have private schools but they're not companies trying to make money. I think that's what makes the difference.

[@panskiviinanen8571]

well the scool system of Finland have been changed like half year ago and I am One of the "test dolls" and with that I mean that we can Advance that speed we want and do our homeworks if we want, but we have to do more tests than usually (but the tests are smaller) and that "new education system have been tested in history with us and another Time with math have just begun (but most of us have Normaly homeworks) but what I am saying with this statement is that it's possible that in several years nobody in Finland may have no home work but that makes our work more indipendance. (and sorry for a potential bad grammal I am just 14 years old and english is not my stongest subject in scool)

[@panskiviinanen8571]

hope you understand what I am saying

[@eurasieraurora]

English is my best subject. The only one I got a 10.

[@fschy]

Hi, I'm from Brazil and English is not my first language, but tell about your classroom, the students sit in line? I've heard not, you make groups and sit in circles. That's true?

[@youngThrashbarg]

What makes the finnish kids smart and bring about the great results.. is that they first have to learn finnish, which is one of the most difficult languages to learn.. and then they go to school.

[@lillitiainen7295]

I almost never had homework but i guess it depends on the school and teachers. Did you teach a steiner school?

[@osku1995]

Sooo there kinda are private schools but they aren't in any way private (except the ownership) nor do they usually cost anything to attend. These one's that do cost are pretty much there to just help you catch up in your studies to get into uni.

[@DavidAndrewsPEC]

THANK YOU!!!!! I'm sick of having to debunk those shitty myths!

[@twalton]

You're welcome! :)

[@SuperCompany007]

Never heard of those 9th grade exams... The average grades are counted from all of middle-school, no special teat.

[@0Quiwi0]

The thing about the masters degree is that you need to actually have a masters degree in *teaching*, and of course masters in the class you are going to teach.

[@creativeandaliveat65]

This is the problem I have with a semi-ignorant but overly self confident US'er busting myths: You are actually creating and/or solidifying them. Thankfully we have helpful, patient Finnish people putting in the effort to sort out inaccuracies in English, which is a third language they learned at school. Some humility might look good on you, Tyler Walton.

[@elsa5315]

I got homeworks from my first school day to this day. Okay, not in everyday, but usually. And our teacher gave us summer homeworks in fuor first years.

[@twalton]

Your teachers sound like badasses.

[@Ennniii]

Good video, even though there were a few mistakes here and there(which have already been corrected by others) but i really I gotta ask, do you teach at the English School? The talk of a private school with a ~600 euro fee rang a bell. I graduated high school there like 6 years ago... Man i feel old.

[@twalton]

Thanks! Yes, I taught at TES last year.

[@Mayhem-pv9cc]

There is tests to get in to schools, but you can get in even when you fail the tests. My 9th grade test was about punch of questions of gardening and stuff... To help me find a path that would be best for me. Now I have 2 professions. one is for cooking, and the other is for IT, and I am studying 3dh, in higher level, marketing.

[@kipstanswjego6678]

Myth 5. Hmm. In most US states, you need a bachelor's degree plus a teaching certificate of some kind. At the secondary schools, you usually need a subject-specific certificate, which, while not an MA, is still an extra qualification. On the contrary, American schools sometimes reject a higher qualification in favor of a lower, as was the case when I studied German at a community college. My professor had a doctorate in teaching German but was not allowed to teach at a US university because of restrictions imposed by (non-unionized) faculty at the time. She taught us to read Fraktur, for example, and she helped me get private tutoring from a German national living in my city (San Jose, primarily Hispanic, not German). But to tackle the point you seem to be eliding, it's a sad fact that GRE scores for admission to graduate programs in education are lower on average than for programs in the sciences or in a field like history or even English literature. While not gainsaying top educational institutions like Columbia Teachers' College, I am not as impressed by what people in education write as I am in fields like history. For example, a rather thoughtful book came out last year about the overuse of detention and suspension in American schools. Alas, it opened with one of these ubiquitous "phony quotes" that people just love to decorate their books with. All the authors had to do was do a check of the supposed famous saying to find that it was wrong--and in so doing they might have found something much better, and accurate, to boot.

[@Karjala2006]

Your catchphrase could be: "I don't check out any facts. The fats check out me."

[@matthewreichlin713]

Great video. Found it when looking for more details on the system. the questions I am hoping to get to the bottom of are more in depth. Could the Finnish system work in America? For all groups? For which groups? Does Finland have a lot of poverty and such to deal with like in the US?

[@alexiesclaireraoet4185]

A kind of colleague i want to have while exchanging some great ideas on the faculty room.

[@lyamainu]

I never got homework as a young child, but my kindergarten son does.

[@vyebey8934]

Okay, where exactly is this? WHATS YOUR LOCATION IN THIS VIDEO? looks extremely beautiful, though cold. :) and this is eyeopening, after watching a US-based doc on the Finnish system

[@christianajo5691]

we don't get that much homework

[@TNX255]

About the exams at the end of high school (upper secondary), it would have been good to mention that high school is voluntary and many people never go there (I would guess about 50 percent), but instead choose a more practical approach and go to some vocational school and learn a profession right from there, rather than taking the long way around (High school -> University). Also, the term "private school" in Finland doesn't really mean exactly the same thing as in many other countries, since private schools are usually only more focused on some subjects like music or art, and - like you mentioned - otherwise still follow the same curriculum as the "public" schools.

[@twalton]

Thanks for the insight!

[@kahviholisti5021]

(I am finnish) In high school you CAN do your homework during the lesson. But in the primary school you cant do your homework in the school. That is not fair, I guess...

[@chiefslime1]

So you’re telling me they have to take 2 whole standardized tests during primary school and high school, and in america we have to take 2 per year starting in 3rd grade.

[@matiasitaluoma9317]

We have the most advanced education system in the world and one reason is because we get a shitload of homework.... I have never heard of these myths

[@niklasnasala7220]

"Land where kids are baby geniouses!" That moment when you meet that "special" kid from our class you will spit on that sentence! He ain't no Einstein! He ain't smart at all!

[@joseangel7535]

What I learned in this video: 1. Finnish education system may not be the best system in the world (But) 2. Finland might be the greatest country in the world.

[@DavidAndrewsPEC]

Second point: not really. I'm finding out - as I have been for 17 years now - that Finland is rather shitty towards the disabled. Even the disability services law of 1987 has not a single sanction that the disabled person can use in order to make the local authorities do their jobs. So, no - not the best country in the world.

[@twalton]

Thanks for the insight!

[@DavidAndrewsPEC]

Tyler Walton You're welcome. We have to debunk bullshit myths.

[@Groaznic]

Dude looks like Milo Yiannopoulos' brother. Or husband.

[@suokkos]

Most likely explanation is that our school system is just high average European standard but Finnish language gives huge advantage when reading a text about an unfamiliar topic. At least results split between Swedish and Finnish speaking students hint that. Of course the language aspect wasn't originally studied at all and it hasn't got wider publicity which have resulted to funny myths about a good school system. Also studies publish headlines from average results where Finland does well because difference between weakest and strongest results are much smaller than other places. But when comparing top results to other then Finland would be just an average country. The equality in schooling (and society in general) can be a good thing in many cases. But it removes the chance from exceptional childs to push to their limits.

[@rsacchi100]

Thank you for clearing up these myths. It also explains much.

[@Sodabubbless]

I used to get a lot homework in elementary school but as I went to secondary school I stopped getting homework, I might get very Little homework and I don't even have to do it.

[@dornart9967]

hi you are a very coooooolllll teacher !!! I'm pretty sure that I would be able to put myself in a university of applied sciences in Tampere and I would be in Finland by August 2017 and your videos are life-saving (ok that was too much ) but it would be my first time out of my country and I am a bit nervous and watching your videos somehow comfort me . so thank you. by the way ! I am a 27 years old Persian girl and I am from Iran (the country which governmentally hates almost all the world ) so if all I said sounded creepy!!!! Not totally my fault. please don't stop making videos please . please.... please .......please ....... wish you the best .

[@megalo540]

Hi!what do you teach in finland?and do you teach speaking in english or in finnish?

[@caveguy22]

where i live in Finland you either have good grades or absolutely hideously miserably bad grades

[@EnraiChannel]

To be honest, I have never heard of any of these myths before.

[@DavidAndrewsPEC]

They've been going round Facebook for a couple of years now ....

[@Zwerggoldhamster]

You should say "For now, we finnish!" xD

[@noname-dj7vj]

I'm in the US. I'm being pulled behind by bad classes. It takes my math class 3-4 days for each lesson. I already know most of the concepts from summer studies and have tried to get to a better class but can, as my classes are dragging me behind. I try to compensate by taking other classes, but it can only take me so far. all this because I failed one test in 6th grade, I now have to take slow classes I am in no way fit for. The us education system is broken and dysfunctional. Teachers aren't respected, so kids are treated poorly. I've lost confidence in the school I go to, and have been having motivation issues with school lately. I wish I could find an escape, but there is none for me.

[@yerlocalpeanutdealer795]

How’s life now?

[@162Jenni]

I never took a test to determine witch high school I would go to? Isn't it just based on your GPA? Like I had a GPA of 8,7 so I got into a high school with a 8,5 limit.

[@timoyr2954]

I think the misconception comes from how much less lawyers and doctors here make in comparison to the US. A doctor who specialises in something, might make twice as much as a teacher in Finland, but in the US, it might be closer to 10 times as much. Similar to doctors, there are no civil law suits that net people millions of dollars and grant the lawyer a big chunk of that.

[@Mercy-tb8pk]

I got less and less homework as I went through my schooling and by the last two years I didn’t have actual prescribed homework just my normal assignments and exam studies.

[@elizabethludden7182]

The reason Americans are talking about Finland not having homework is more fixated on the younger grades. Right now in the us kindergarteners in some districts are coming home with 3 hours of homework a night. I think our country is currently freaking out about the overload on the younger grades. The younger grades are suffering in an effort to bring national averages up and actually the higher amounts of homework are back firing. Good video though, thanks for the clarification.

[@aglayamajorem9546]

Elizabeth Ludden Asians have much more homework than Americans. What Americans think of homework is like nothing too hard and time consuming for us.

[@shanesorensen7878]

In America students shouldn’t get homework until 5th grade.

[@minecraftermad]

Myth 6: Finland exists

[@souheib9343]

for a teacher youre fucking cool

[@twalton]

Haha, I'll add that to my resume.