Is home-schooling allowed in Finland?

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 9:55 am

Home-schooling is quite common in the United States. Schools can be dangerous and teachers can be worthless so while Daddy heads off to work, Mommy stays home and teaches the kids.

Is this allowed in Finland?

I'm wondering about this after the article I just read...
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/artic ... E_ID=35082

**Sponsor:**

PeterF · Post by **PeterF** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 11:48 am

Oggie does not need lessons

Or is Anja going to teach you some new tricks?

"This is a dirty plate..this is washing up liquid....you mix it with water...No dont drink it.

..you put the dirty plate into the mixture....see it gets it clean

..now do that with the rest of the plates while I watch Salatut Elämät!!

Caroline · Post by **Caroline** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 3:55 pm

Phil wrote:Home-schooling is quite common in the United States. Schools can be dangerous and teachers can be worthless so while Daddy heads off to work, Mommy stays home and teaches the kids.

Is this allowed in Finland?

I'm wondering about this after the article I just read...
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/artic ... E_ID=35082

I don't know, but I am very curious to hear the answer. I was home-schooled for two years and it was a very beneficial experience. It's great because the family has the authority to choose the subjects as long as the basics are covered- I've heard of home-schoolers taking flight lessons for example.

The above are also reasons for the trend, but quite a lot of families choose that option simply because you can get much more accomplished in less time when studying at home. There are still a good number of excellent public schools and devoted mainstream teachers- one of whom organized the trip to Italy that got me fascinated with international travel.

Tom and Jerry · Post by **Tom and Jerry** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 4:17 pm

Home-schooling is allowed.
According to this school law the kid has the 'right' to go to school. In contrast with other countries it is not compulsary.

In principle, yes, in theory. In practice it doesn't work.

Ohh..... sorry ... it was Phil who asked this.

Phil, do normal, just like all other kids. You are crazy within a few years if you make up all this abnormal things, like painting your house in another colour than the neighbour, not going to the school. Just do like the rest.

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 4:42 pm

This sounds weird - first part is "home with mom" - If you have enough money to have mom stay at home, why would you not have enough money to send the kid to a private school then?

In Finland we have this thing called "oppivelvollisuus". "obligation to learn". age 7-16.

"All children permanently resident in Finland are subject to compulsory education for a period of ten years starting in the year of their seventh birthday. Compulsory education ends when the pupil reaches the age of 17 or when he or she has completed the comprehensive school syllabus, whichever occurs first. Compulsory education does not entail an obligation to attend school, but pupils may also acquire the equivalent knowledge and skills in some other way.[...] The basic education syllabus includes at least the following subjects: mother tongue and literature (Finnish or Swedish), the other national language (Swedish or Finnish), foreign languages, environmental studies, civics, religion or ethics, history, social studies, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, geography, physical education, music, visual arts, craft and home economics. The broad national objectives and the allocation of teaching time to instruction in different subjects and subject groups and to pupil counselling are decided by the Government. The National Board of Education decides on the objectives and core contents of instruction by confirming the core curriculum. Based on these, each provider of education prepares the local basic education curriculum."

In other words you can be homeschooled, but you have to pass the state mandated tests. Schools here are pretty good - not like you can pass highschool without being able to read just by playing football.

Homeschooling is done very rarely - say like in Lappland if the kids are too young to go live in a boarding school. Usually they do that as the trip is 200 km a leg.

Anyhow, if you have no interaction with kids your age and just spend time home with your mom...

Caroline · Post by **Caroline** » Thu Oct 16, 2003 5:18 am

Anyhow, if you have no interaction with kids your age and just spend time home with your mom...

[/quote]

People in Finland rarely ineract anyway...how does home-schooling change that

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Thu Oct 16, 2003 9:27 am

Good point.

arty fact · Post by **arty fact** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 10:08 pm

At least the experience of home teaching is worth not only emotionally if the parents do have themselves some education and degrees. My grandparents taught me lots of things (Russian amongst them) and I preffered home to some impersonal kindergarden teacher and little evil mates.Society though is unavoidable, and sooner or later you get its imprints.

clapar · Post by **clapar** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 2:20 pm

Hi Cory, can you tell me more about this homeschooling?
We live in Espoo border with Kaunianen.
I'm very interested.
Ciao claudia

Kutittaa · Post by **Kutittaa** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 12:44 pm

Just to clarify. Finland is not America. The education system in Finland is pretty much world class. You would be mad to not send your kid(s) there if within all reason you can.

It's very common for both people in a relationship in Finland to work. Let other people teach your kid(s). If both of you work it isn't expensive and that way you know they are on par with the rest of the people their age.

aikonelibom · Post by **aikonelibom** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 10:58 am

Kutittaa wrote:Just to clarify. Finland is not America. The education system in Finland is pretty much world class. You would be mad to not send your kid(s) there if within all reason you can.

I fail to understand how the education system in Finland is "world class". Is it because it tops the PISA and is PISA the holy-grail of education standards? If Finland tops the PISA chart then it means that the Finnish education system is good in taking PISA tests and it doesn't prove anything more. Children from Finland education system are not in any other world ranking charts like Olympiads or other international contests.

As a result of good education, there must be more entrepreneurs, innovators, scientists, etc in Finland. I doubt if there are any who are in the world ranking charts. There are occasional products like Nokia, Angry Birds, Linux etc. But exceptions are not examples.

rinso · Post by **rinso** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 11:46 am

Is it because it tops the PISA and is PISA the holy-grail of education standards?

PISA is one way of looking at it. Looking at successful businesses is another. But with PISA results from education are measured, not other economic values like resources, cheap labor and so on.

But most importantly, in The Finnish system no one is left behind.

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2000 est.)

Only 5 other countries in the world can claim a 100% literacy!
(CAI: The world factbook)

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 11:58 am

clapar wrote:Hi Cory, can you tell me more about this homeschooling?
We live in Espoo border with Kaunianen.
I'm very interested.
Ciao claudia

I guess there can be some useful tips here, if you did not notice the thread already: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=43543

onkko · Post by **onkko** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 12:10 pm

aikonelibom wrote: I fail to understand how the education system in Finland is "world class". Is it because it tops the PISA and is PISA the holy-grail of education standards? If Finland tops the PISA chart then it means that the Finnish education system is good in taking PISA tests and it doesn't prove anything more. Children from Finland education system are not in any other world ranking charts like Olympiads or other international contests.

As a result of good education, there must be more entrepreneurs, innovators, scientists, etc in Finland. I doubt if there are any who are in the world ranking charts. There are occasional products like Nokia, Angry Birds, Linux etc. But exceptions are not examples.

If you dont understand why finland cant compete with china and usa etc. in international math etc. contests then you shouldnt be homescooling. Atleast not when you use "exceptions are not examples".
Hint. 5 400 519*0,01 = 54 005 VS 308 651 528*0,01=3 086 515

Ps. Finland is 7th in patents per capita, 4th in innovation, 4th in competitiveness etc... So we dont have nothing to shame.

Raakel92 · Post by **Raakel92** » Sat May 12, 2012 2:53 am

Of course it is legal, and if you have thought it through and have passed the tests in order to be "qualified" to teach them, then by all means go for it!

I don't like it when people say, "But it's not mainstream!" because aren't we trying to teach the children of today to think for themselves and be proud of their individuality? If the only friends children have are the ones from school, that is kind of pathetic...
I've worked in schools throughout the capital city area, and I have noticed a lot of blatant bullying and students disrespecting teachers. The teachers try these submissive ways of disciplining and it doesn't work. I think homeschooling in Finland would be a great idea. This way you can also keep your children from being brainwashed and engineered to be a certain way.
(If you don't need two breadwinners in the family, there's no reason to have both parents at work, unless it is to earn extra money for travelling or something

In my opinion, of course!

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