FINLAND BY WAY OF PRESCOTT
Educators from all over the world have thronged to Finland in
an attempt to fathom why the Organization of Economic Cooperation
and Development has ranked the Finnish schools as the world's
best. These "educational pilgrims" are attempting to
answer the question(s) of how this tiny Nordic country became
first in literacy and places in the top five in math and science?
Finland's recipe is both complex and unabashedly basic. What is
even more amazing is how the Finnish schools mirror Mountain Oak
Charter school and its Waldorf methods approach.
Here are several of the major traits which sets Finland apart
from other countries: (1) All teachers in Finland must have a
master's degree. At MOCS, all the class teachers and specialty
teacher's have bachelor's degree's and several have master's degree's.
In addition, of course, the teachers at MOCS either have Waldorf
Teaching degrees or are in the process of obtaining this credential.
(2) The profession of teaching is highly respected in Finland.
Likewise, Waldorf teachers are highly sought after and respected
as professional educators, not only in Arizona and the United
States, but throughout the world. (3) Children in Finland do not
start first grade until they are 7 years old. Sounds familiar
to our parents at MOCS does it not? Children in Finland start
school late on the theory that they will learn to love learning
through play. At first, the 7 year-olds lag behind their peers
in other countries in reading, but they catch up almost immediately
and then excel. Experts site several reasons: reading to children,
telling folk tales and going to the library as well as reciting
or telling a story to children before bed-time. They also view
television shows and movies with subtitles which means they read
while watching TV. (4) Students in Finland must learn another
foreign language. At MOCS it has been recognized from the beginning
of the school's biography that the rich immersion in the Spanish
language program is so valuable and available to all our children
each week. (5) Art, music, physical education, and handwork activities
such as knitting and sewing are obligatory for boys and girls
in Finland. The immersion in all of the ARTS is the heart and
soul of the Waldorf method. We certainly have it going on at MOCS!
After reading what is happening in Finland, I am even more proud
of our school and Waldorf methods program, its dedicated teacher's,
staff, parents, and board of directors. Perhaps we could save
many of these aforementioned "educational pilgrims"
and state education officials a lot of travel time and air miles
by simply inviting them to Prescott and the Mountain Oak Charter
School to view first-hand the very exciting world-class education
children are already receiving in this high-desert city of Arizona.
I'm certain, in time, this 'new' international story from Finland
will include a chapter from Prescott, Arizona.
- Merrill Badger, Principal |
Happening This Week:
Tomorrow, Wednesday May 5th is a half-day
early release at 12:30 pm. A burrito lunch is available.
NO SCHOOL this Friday, May 7th it is our teacher in-service
day.
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Spring Clean Mountain Oak!!
Yes, the Rummage sale is on!!
May 15th from 8 am to 1 pm
Please drop off your "stuff" May 14th after school.
If you don't have "stuff" perhaps, look in our neighbors
garage?? Or think bout baking your favorite baked good recipe
for the bake sale. Our goal is $500 or better!! Please sign up
to help with set up, run the sale, or be a part of clean-up!!
Call Laura at 541-7815
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May 4, 2004
