Quote:Finland has significantly better teachers and much smaller classrooms.  Teachers are required to have a masters degree and only the top 10% of those with the degree are hired.  Becoming a teacher is a very prestigious job in Finland.  The teachers are allowed to prepare their students how they see fit as opposed to a directive.  Finland has made education a high priority.  They can afford to hire what amounts to college professors to teach small settings of children.  In Finland, teachers are well-compensated compared to the rest of the college graduate work force.  Also, half of Finland graduates high school and then enrolls in trade schools.

 

Finland's school system is state run, but in a way not possible for the United States to adopt.  However, mostly privatizing schooling may narrow the gap.