Teaching in the US vs. the rest of the world

Summary

The video script compares the experiences of two newly graduated teachers, Anna from the United States and Sophia from Finland, highlighting stark contrasts in their careers. Despite similar aspirations to teach middle school, Anna faces a higher likelihood of leaving teaching due to overwork, low pay, and a lack of appreciation. In contrast, Sophia enjoys better working conditions, more collaboration time, and higher pay relative to her peers. The video examines how the US’s teacher shortages and overworked educators might benefit from adopting aspects of Finland’s education system, which places a higher value on teachers and offers better support.

Takeaways

• 😀 Anna and Sophia are both recent college graduates who want to be middle school teachers, but their experiences will likely differ greatly due to the education systems in the US and Finland.
• 😀 The teacher shortage in the United States is significant, with the number of certified teachers decreasing as the number of students increases, causing a crisis in many states.
• 😀 American teachers work about 9.25 hours per day, which is significantly more than teachers in countries like Finland, South Korea, and Japan, where the teaching hours are lower.
• 😀 Despite working longer hours, American teachers spend more of their time teaching in the classroom rather than on planning or collaboration, unlike their peers in OECD countries.
• 😀 US students perform slightly above the OECD average on international tests like PISA, but countries with fewer teaching hours, such as Finland and South Korea, have better results.
• 😀 Anna, a US teacher, works more hours per day compared to Sophia in Finland, but those extra hours are not reflected in her pay. US teachers make far less compared to their college-educated peers.
• 😀 Teachers in Finland earn a comparable income to other college graduates in the country, with a ratio of about 98 cents for every dollar other graduates make, whereas US teachers make only 65 cents for every dollar.
• 😀 Despite higher spending per student in the US, education spending varies greatly by state, with significant disparities between places like New York and Mississippi.
• 😀 The United States spends a considerable amount on security and non-instructional costs compared to other countries, leading to a higher per-student expenditure that isn't always reflected in educational outcomes.
• 😀 A significant cultural difference between Finland and the US is the perception of how teachers are valued, with two-thirds of Finnish teachers feeling respected, compared to just one-third of American teachers who feel the same way.
• 😀 If the US wants to retain more teachers, adopting strategies from Finland's education system, such as better teacher compensation, work-life balance, and respect for the profession, could be beneficial.

Q & A

Why are Anna and Sophia's experiences as teachers likely to be very different?

Anna, from the US, is much more likely to leave teaching compared to Sophia from Finland. This difference stems from various factors like working hours, pay, teacher appreciation, and support systems in their respective countries.

What is causing the teacher shortage in the United States?

The teacher shortage in the US is largely due to high teacher turnover, with many teachers leaving the profession after a short period. The growing number of public school students and shrinking teacher supply has created a crisis.

How long do teachers in the US work compared to other countries in the OECD?

Teachers in the US work about 9.25 hours a day, which is an hour and a half longer than the OECD average and significantly more than teachers in countries like Finland, South Korea, Japan, and Israel.

Do longer teaching hours in the US lead to better educational outcomes?

Despite the longer teaching hours in the US, students score only slightly above the OECD average on the PISA exam. In contrast, countries with fewer teaching hours, like Finland and South Korea, tend to have higher student performance.

How much time do teachers in the US actually spend teaching compared to other tasks?

Out of the 9.25 hours that American teachers work each day, they spend about 5.5 hours teaching. The rest of the time is spent on planning lessons, grading, and other administrative duties.

How does teacher pay in the US compare to Finland?

Teachers in the US earn less compared to their college-educated peers. Specifically, American middle school teachers earn only about 65 cents for every dollar that other college graduates make, whereas Finnish teachers earn around 98 cents for every dollar made by other college graduates.

How does the amount the US spends per student compare to other countries?

The US spends more per student than almost any other country, though the amount varies significantly by state. For example, New York spends twice as much as California, while Mississippi spends less than half as much as Alaska.

What is one significant difference in the way the US and Finland approach education funding?

The US spends a large portion of its education budget on non-instructional costs, like security, whereas other countries tend to prioritize instructional costs. Additionally, Finland spends a higher share of its national wealth (GDP) on education compared to the US.

How do teachers in Finland feel about being valued compared to teachers in the US?

In Finland, two-thirds of teachers feel that they are valued by society, while only one-third of American teachers feel similarly.

What lessons can the US learn from Finland to retain more teachers?

To retain more teachers, the US could benefit from Finland's model, which includes better work-life balance for teachers, higher teacher respect and value in society, and more support for teachers in terms of pay and working conditions.