Are you smarter than a Finnish 5th Grader?
March 4, 2008 – 8:42 pm by S TGood evening. If you are reading this during the morning, then a good morning. And if you’re reading this during the afternoon hours, then…stop reading. Get back to work. Or whatever else it was that kept you preoccupied prior to your arrival here. This blog is NOT a productive way to spend your day. Just being honest. Btw, didn’t you think that when I said “and if you are reading this during the afternoon”, I’d continue with “then good afternoon”? Isn’t that wildly wicked that I tricked you like that? Hehe.
This past Friday, the WSJ ran an article called ” What Makes Finnish Kids So Smart?”. FYI, I love the WSJ. Big time. So does my chef friend. And my chef is generally correct about everything; including his recent suggestion that I go stock up on food at Costco. The online version of the Journal does not do the print version any justice. The free content is scarce, though Rupert may change that. And when I subscribed to the paid version, it was still much more enjoyable to read the physical paper; specifically, the in-depth articles.
My advice? Read the column in its entirety. It’s an interesting piece with lots of food for thought. Without giving too much away, Finnish teenagers score exceptionally well on the PISA. (Program for International Student Assessment; a test given to 15-year-old students in 57 Countries. How do YOU not know this? Let me guess? You’re an American. Figures. KIDDING!) Sample test questions here. Test scores by country here.
According to the article, Finnish kids like to read. A lot. That might be one of the reasons why the Finnish are so bright.
Of course, I have a few my own additional explanations that will shed some light on the matter, while bringing some light to the shed.
1) As depicted photographically in the paper, students in Finnish schools are permitted to walk around in their socks. Please observe the picture in Exhibit A.
Exhibit A
Some info about me; I grew up as a child. Pretty amazing experience. Anyways, I remember being a student in school and having a difficult time with tests. My concentration was lacking. Why? Because I was wearing shoes! That is why. It’s no secret that when the shoes come off, the mind begins to cough. A good cough. Hence, since the Finns are allowed to study in socks, naturally, their test performance is off the charts! This concludes my primary theory.
My secondary theory; yes, the Finnish like to read. So, reading equals accumulated intelligence. However, this only answers the test scores. But why in fact are the Finns such voracious readers? I’ll tell; because when a Finn starts a book, they plan on Finnishing it!
(This blog was written with my shoes off.)
4 Responses to “Are you smarter than a Finnish 5th Grader?”
Mr.Tennenhaus,
That was a fun read. Intriguingly so
Your point about Finnish kids does make me think, the country though being extremely so has produced companies such as Nokia and Kone which are clear market leaders.
Shoes on or off, the country certainly has a history of producing extremely productive people. Maybe, it has something to do with the country being cut-off and secluded, somewhat like Seatle - Good place to do some hard work:)
Why are Finns voracious readers? Simple - they can’t get enough of Huckleberry Finn.
Elementary - my dear Tennenhaus
By sudhirsyal1 on Mar 4, 2008
Great post; very humorous. I’m surprised you didn’t mention anything about the 15yr old watching Desperate Housewives.
I guess it isn’t so surprising that Finnish are one of the smartest people in the world. The guy that created Linux, Linus Torvalds, is Finnish.
By michaelrosejr on Mar 5, 2008
It might be interesting to get a real Finn’s point of view on this. I am a Finn, born and raised in Finland. It’s been awhile since I’ve been to Finland, but I think the Finnish school system has stayed pretty much the same since I left it.
In regards to shoes in the classroom, it is not a choice, but a rule. No shoes are allowed. The reason is probably pedagogic, but also basic cleanliness. It rains a lot in Finland, and winter time is especially wet and cold. If all the kids came into the classroom with their boots on, the classroom would be flooded. Everything would be wet. The coats and shoes are left outside of classroom in the cubbies so not wet clothes and shoes come in the classroom, and it stays nice and pleasant place to learn.
Taking shoes off also decreases noise level, when the kids are not kicking the chairs and desks with their shoes.
Another main reason, I have always thought what increases the Finns “smartness” is the fact that they are not pushed into academics when they are little children and not ready for it. I started first grade age 7 (first grade starts in the fall the year when you turn 7, so kids born in January or December of the same year are in the same grade), and learned to read sometime between first and second grades. I wasn’t considered dumb for that reason, it was very typical.
One more important difference is the the Americans’ reliance on standardized testing and nationwide (NCLB) rules on school progress. In Finland, I don’t remember ever taking standardized testing until in my high school year in order to get a HS diploma.
Grades are determined by the highly educated teachers and they are respected. I don’t know what kind of school comparison programs they have, but I think the schools are more concerned on the individual student successes than the school image.
So my basic argument for Finns’ success is the starting age of school, shoes off policy, and no standardized testing.
Other things like bullying, cliques, and isolation are probably as common there as in America.
By Kirsi on Mar 19, 2008