A review by drkottke
Finnish Lessons: What Can the World Learn from Educational Change in Finland? by Pasi Sahlberg

5.0

Those who see their glass as half-full will rejoice at the possibilities of what could be, based on the success of the Finnish way. Those who see their glass as half-empty will despair at the degree of change across all sectors of society that are necessary pre-conditions for the success of the Finnish way - and the long-term commitment to ideals required to pull it off - for the high quality of the Finnish educational system is not a beacon of light in a dark country, but rather an organic development in a culture puts a premium on literacy, learning, and equitable distribution of social capital. The American ethos has historically been the reverse: that quality education will civilize the frontier and cure all social ills. Those who know their Dewey will be breath-taken by this phenomenal validation of his ideals, because if nothing else, Finnish Lessons is a case study in the implementation of Dewey's full vision of child-centered education and democratic social organization. Essential reading for educators, policy makers, and anyone concerned with how the social fabric of the United States might be better woven.