[Pasi Sahlberg is no "one-trick-pony" ! Even though many educators point to Finland as an example of good practice in education it's not just priority funding that does it. Pasi insists that considerable accountability is built into their Finnish system. Also, they abide by basic principles of good management, that is, policy is NOT determined by teachers or unions who still push for "worker control of the workplace". I'm trying to spread the message about the comprehensive approach and this is another comment I made to a local newspaper http://www.surreyleader.com/news/258965971.html ]
Pasi Sahlberg On Education Policy Decision-making
Pasi says teachers should not dominate education affairs. Sure, they should be involved, but if there were 10 at a decision-making table about policy or broad issues and principles in education, only one should be a teacher.
Who is Pasi Sahlberg? He is the spokesman, the good will ambassador, for the Finnish way in public education. Finland achieves superior results in international education scores and thus attracts considerable attention — including education tourism when people hope to gain insights into good practice.
It’s not just administrations that are interested; Pasi is also the darling of teacher unions because he supports the mantra of “more funding”.
Whether it’s about teacher training, or special education or class size or funding formulas, the name of Pasi Sahlberg is frequently invoked as an authority. Well, here is one more area where Pasi should be listened to — policy making.
This insight came out as a result of recent attention about a teenager visiting Finland on a Ministry contract to study teacher training. It happens that while Anjali Vyas was in Finland to meet with Pasi another researcher was also there at the same time. It is from this researcher’s blog that we gain the profound observation from Pasi, quoted below:
“[Janet English on a Fulbright project] “I said to Pasi, "This disconnect (between policy and practice) is why I keep saying, 'Why aren’t the teachers at the decision-making table?' because if we don't have the teacher voice at the policy-making table we'll continue having the same problems we’re having now!"
He acknowledged my words, looked straight at me and replied, "There is a saying … that 'war is too important to be decided by the military people' and it's the same with education. I think education is too important to be decided by teachers — and this has nothing to do with undervaluing teachers' expertise — but their view is very different to education. I think teachers should have a say to these issues – exactly what you said _ how to decide the teaching, how you set the standards for your own kids, how you organize your school work — this should be left to the teachers. I think too often we intervene in the wrong areas of education — we try to control what each and every teacher is doing in the classroom. We should leave those things to the professionals. But the broad issues, the principles of education should be based on a more balanced view and that's why I would only have one practitioner in the room and divide this voice more equally to those who are the key stakeholders, (including) parents and the community members — not necessarily just those working or teaching in the school."
[English replied], "I've seen that community-driven, cooperative approach in Finland and it works. I agree with you."
From interview with Pasi http://
This whole interview is very enlightening and well-worth a full read.