Finland Days 9 & 10

Finland Days 9 & 10, November 10th and 11th, 2022

Day 10 saw us attend the Internationalization Days Conference at the University of Eastern Finland. This conference, attended by roughly 200 educators from all over Finland is a famously important conference for teachers here in Finland. We spent the morning listening Finnish educators discuss topics like integrating “transversal competencies” into classrooms, and creating virtual exchanges for our students with other students abroad. During this trip I have been asking about and paying attention to what really separates Finnish teachers and classrooms from American ones. One difference is that almost every Finnish teacher I have met thus far places and incredible amount of emphasis on international awareness and education. This shouldn’t be surprising. But for an American educator, this is definitely new. I wrote previously in one of my posts about the importance of social context in understanding an educational system. Once again, you get the sense that the intentional focus of teachers on international education is not an option. Given Finland’s small size and history of foreign influence, Finland has had to bring attention to the world around them. One does not need to look far in the curriculum to see this influence. Finnish education teaches three mandatory languages: Finnish, Swedish, and English, all of which students are expected to show competency in. In addition, most students are fully aware of the political situation at any given moment in America. This is not to say that American teachers don’t care about the world or current events. Quite the contrary. However, Americans in many cases have had the option to pick up international education or leave it on the shelf. Only recently, with a few exceptions, have American students really been confronted with the ways in which pressures like globalization affect them. Again, I am not speaking for all Americans, but the Finns need for international education is a fact not an option. This led me to think about questions that we need to be taking back with us: What social pressures are shaping our “necessities” in education? Are we actually focusing on teaching what our students need? How in tune are we to the global forces around us and how do they differ for teachers in America?

The evening brought a totally new experience for us as well. Apparently, this Internationalization Days is a big deal to the cities who host it each year. So, Joensuu’s mayor and city council hosted us for dinner in the town’s beautiful art gallery. It was wonderful to see so many teachers gathered in one place. The evening was kickstarted by a speech from the mayor (in Finnish of course) and a really amazing recital of Kantele music from a local group of musicians. I spoke to so many interesting people: principals, teachers, and local leaders. It was surreal! If you would have told me that at the start of my teaching career I would be standing in an art gallery in eastern Finland with teachers, I would have not probably not believed you (although I would have wished for it!). Yet, here we were. A group of American teachers, three of whom had never been out of the country, talking about education, politics, and family with other teachers from the other side of the world. This nerd couldn’t be more happy:)

Day 10 was our last in Joensuu…but not before three of us got to deliver the keynote speech at the end of the conference! Yes, that is correct. Myself, Sophia, and Micheal were asked at the last moment to speak on how we build community in American schools. This was a last minute addition. But I love talking about education AND I love talking to other teachers about education. This was truly a wonderful experience. I spoke first about the structure of American education. I then got to highlight what my department in Woodford County does to build trust in our department. So cool…so very, very cool.

To my fellow teachers who struggle every day to bring relevance to the classroom, keep up the good fight and paljon onnea!

Kippis!