The ‘Stress’ Generation (Part 2)

 The ‘Stress’ Generation (Part 2)

Last time, we talked about School Hours, Productivity and Mental Health of our Students. But instead of rambling on about the cracks in our Education System, let’s take a peek into the country with the World’s Best Education System.

Chapter 1: Education, Finnishing First

Finland. Home to the World’s Best Education System. In front of other’s you have probably heard of, Canada, Singapore and China. But unlike Finland, these countries also have some of the highest stress and depression rates amongst teenagers. But Finland seems to be the country that has perfected their Education System. So what are some tricks that Finland have on their sleeves.

1. Money and Fees — Well for starters and the best selling point, Public Education is 100% Free! All the way up to University! Parents don’t pay a single cent for their children to go to school every day. Schools are also forbidden to cheat the system and ask parents for funds and donations privately. Instead, all schools receive the equal amount of money in Finland through taxation. 

2. Age — All Students in Finland start school at the age of 7. When you first enter school, you study for 20 hours a week which progressively increases as you grow up. 

3. Teachers - All Teachers in Finland are highly valued in society because they are highly educated. In Finland, the role of teaching a class is actually highly sought after by the Finnish people. When a role is highly sought after, it often requires some high form of qualifications. Qualifications vary but to become a teacher in Finland, you 

4. Schools - There are hundreds of Finnish schools so the following information varies. Most of Finland’s schools are equipped with high quality facilities. This includes sports facilities such as Pool Tables, Table Tennis, Hockey, Soccer etc. But they also include a variety of other facilities most schools don’t really have. These include gaming facilities, libraries and sometimes, pools.

So what exactly can we learn from the Finnish Education System? Upon researching more about the Finnish Education System, I stumbled across a video of a Singaporean student studying in Finland and I think his broad message can act as a simple conclusion. That is: 

“Singapore is Learning driven by Grades. Finland is more Grades driven by Learning”

I think the summary he gave was perfect. Go watch the interview here and how he describes learning feels in Finland. But there is one important factor towards schooling that no education system has conquered. The problem of standardisation. 

Chapter 2: Standardising Education

In our Education System, everything is standardised. For example, all 40 students in class sitting down looking at the projector and taking down notes which 70% of the class will never refer back to whilst the teacher present a white-screen slideshow with some pictures taken from Google, some even with watermarks. And the teacher explaining to the class in the most boring, neutral, inexpressive tone as one by one, students slowly begins to daze off before a few months later, the same 40 of them sit in the same classroom to take an exam that will make or break the next two weeks of their lives. That is Standardisation.

But our world isn’t built for standardisation. All of us have a creative talent. But when we enter school, all if not most of our talents get squandered and get squished under the system. You see, not everyone flourishes academically. Now, granted, there have been attempts (keyword: attempts) and strategies that various systems have used such as the only 50% effective, Co-Curricular Activities (CCA)! (I.e. After-school activities)

All Secondary Schools in Singapore are to have CCA as a mandatory activity. But not all schools in Singapore are made the same. Some schools like my schools have 17 CCAs others have more than 30. Some schools have unique CCAs such as Green Service Club or Astronomy Club or Singapore Youth Flying Club or Bowling or Rugby. And some schools have oddly close selections of CCAs. For example, what’s the difference between Red Cross Society, Red Cross Youth, St John’s Brigade? And the difference between Infocomm Club, IT Club, AV Media Club, Electronics Club? 

In conclusion, standardisation is an interesting problem. It involves picking and choosing what is right for a school and what is not. Across reading various books, I came across an article called Democracy in Schools! Which is what I believe is the closest example to getting complete rid of standardisation.

Chapter 3: The Republic of a Cool School

To simplify all information online to a few simple sentences, Democracy in Schools is basically standardising everyone in school to be a citizen of the school. This includes parents, teachers, principals, support staff and most importantly, students. From there, everyone I mentioned will be allowed to introduce new rules and laws to the school provided that the rules are advantaged towards the learning of students. From there, all will be given a vote and vote on implementing said rule. 

It seems pathetic at first, to let teachers follow and obey rules put in by students but it works! I think if this sort of Democracy is implemented in schools, we could achieve a more conducive environment in schools! For example, there is a shortcut that hundreds of people use everyday in my school to get between two school blocks. This shortcut is unpaved, usually flooded, muddy, wet and sometimes dangerous. If Democracy was implemented, I’m sure we can easily get this shortcut paved as an actual walkway everyone can use, maybe even get it sheltered. Democracy in schools can work both ways. But I will give you a few reasons why I think this sort of system can work.

1. It gives students a say on how the school is run - As students, we are often told that school is a second home. Therefore, I think students should have a say on their home. This is especially beneficial in the way that now students can voice what they want changed in the school system and can focus on their perspective. The way teachers and students see the environment is different. Let’s use the latest iPhone 12 as an example. To an adult, its another phone that Apple releases maybe with some cooler features and that bloody expensive price tag. To a student though, that could be a dream comes true to own such an expensive phone! Democracy in schools allows students to voice their opinions on things as well.

2. It gives students an opportunity to change - On one hand, you can say it gives them a say, on the other, it could change their life in school. It gives students the chance to voice out their opinions towards various rules and regulations in their schools. This can help change the mindset certain students have towards going to school every single day. 

In conclusion, while Democracy in Schools is probably a good idea, it will most likely never be implemented in all schools. For a few reasons, $$$ and Power. Obviously. But I believe that if Democracy in Schools is massively implemented across all schools, it will increase competition between schools from the laws and new rules regulated in various schools. 

Happy Reading!

The ‘Stress’ Generation (Part 1) - Farren tracks his time in school, looks into the world of being productive and productivity and into mental health of students. 

The ‘Stress’ Generation (Part 3) - Farren looks deeper into the many cracks in our Education System. This includes creativity and the digital world!!

The ‘Stress’ Generation (Part 4) - Farren brainstorms into how we can enhance the lives of students and solve some of the most important problems in our Education System.

The ‘Stress’ Generation (Bonus) - Snippets and Stuff that got cut out from the final draft of the first four parts rounded together and also a small Q&A at the end.