Commentary on the Finnish lesson about schools, education reform in the United Kingdom, and political cartoons in the Middle East.

Successful education outcomes are about more than the school. Thanks to Karen of Kingston.

Atlantic -- What Americans Keep Ignoring About Finland's School Success
The Scandinavian country is an education superpower because it values equality more than excellence.

Related.

Smithsonian Magazine -- Why Are Finland's Schools Successful?
The country's achievements in education have other nations doing their homework.

Noted.

“It’s almost unheard of for a child to show up hungry or homeless. Finland provides three years of maternity leave and subsidized day care to parents, and preschool for all 5-year-olds, where the emphasis is on play and socializing. In addition, the state subsidizes parents, paying them around 150 euros per month for every child until he or she turns 17. Ninety-seven percent of 6-year-olds attend public preschool, where children begin some academics. Schools provide food, medical care, counseling and taxi service if needed. Student health care is free.”

Will it travel? (ed’s note – comparisons with Nordic countries can be misleading, still …)

Guardian -- How Finnish schools shine
Teachers are respected, exams are shunned and league tables simply don't exist – but if the Finnish system is so good why is it so hard to emulate?

Lessons for British Columbia.

Pdf below -- Finnish Education Lessons for BC

The education revolution in the United Kingdom.

Telegraph -- Can Education Secretary Michael Gove’s revolution succeed?
The Education Secretary’s latest plans, including the return of O-levels, confirm the scale of his ambition for our schools. But the task he has set himself defeated his predecessors.

The power of the cartoon.

Guardian -- Syrian cartoonist Ali Farzat: 'They broke my hands to stop me drawing Assad' - video
Ali Farzat founded in 2001 Syria's first satirical weekly, Ad Domari. In August 2011, he was attacked by Bashar al-Assad's militia who broke his hands. The incident prompted international condemnation of the Assad regime. Farzat was awarded the European parliament Sakharov prize for freedom of thought.