When  success or failure is determined solely by the   marks  one makes on a standardized test, one may be lead to re-examine the purpose of education.  Does failure on an examine necessarily need to mean failure in life?  While Dr. King spoke of the importance of character, the disturbing trend of school drop out/push outs and the associated school to prison pipeline prompts one to re-examine the commitment to character-building and equity in an educational system that is purportedly  designed  to develop the whole person.

Finland is one country that could possibly provide some important clues for consideration as  one ponders more responsive alternatives. With segments of the student population being from  significantly diverse backgrounds and while spending less money on education and less time in the classroom than the US,  Finland schools are among the most successful in the world. Equity in education is a priority;  school leaders state that they do whatever it takes to turn around the lives of at risk young people.

The Finland school system proposes that by focusing on and measuring only the statistics, the human aspect is missed.    The only mandated standardized test in Finland is one exam at the end of a student’s senior year.  There are no rankings, no comparisons or competition between students, schools or regions.  This school system is designed to teach students to learn how to learn and to live productively and meaningfully in the world.  While attending to the needs of all students,  their focus and priority is   on students of greatest need.  Exclusion or expulsion is not viewed as a viable option.

Flexibility, continual education and equity along with  respect for each child’s individuality and uniqueness are cornerstones to Finland’s educational system.  Begining at an early age children are taught to pay attention to other people’s needs and interests and to care about others.

The Smithsonian reports that ninety-three percent of Finns graduate from academic or vocational high schools.

Is it possible for us in the U.S. to embrace an educational system with a comprehensive and equal commitment to all students, along with an understanding and appreciation that each person is important and that each one counts?