Pirjo Väli-Torala dreamed of being a teacher from an early age as she enjoyed school so much. Twenty years as an upper secondary school language teacher has also taught her as a teacher. Even in the midst of reforms, she thinks it important for a teacher to have time to meet a student as a person.
During a study internship in Spain, Pirjo Väli-Torala realised what makes the Finnish education system so unique.
– In Spain, activities are much more school-based, even for upper secondary school students. For them, upper secondary school is similar to lower secondary school, when in Finland, the gap between these two levels has recently grown quite large. It is typical for us in Finland to take responsibility relatively early. Trust, independence and initiative are important values in the Finnish education system, Pirjo states.
Trust, independence and initiative are important values in the Finnish education system.
The meaning of work stems from the freedom at work
Pirjo's career as a teacher began in the early 2000s. In recent years, she has taught Spanish and English at the Jyväskylän Lyseo upper secondary school, which has about 1,200 students.
Curricula in Finland also define the goals of teaching, the knowledge and skills students need to master. However, teachers have a lot of pedagogical freedom, and Pirjo thinks the work is rewarding. Teachers are allowed to use their skills to find the best ways to achieve the goals of the core curriculum.
– The meaning of work comes from the fact that you can influence the way you do things. Just by repeating the same formula and plans, we would lose our sense of creativity this work can give us, Pirjo says.
The meaning of work comes from the fact that you can influence the way you do things.
Shared values of the Comenius’ Oath
Freedom, of course, also requires responsibility from teachers. At the beginning of the year, there was a public debate about whether teachers are biased in Finland. Pirjo feels that you have to be careful with the issue when, for example, utilising current news in teaching.
– As a teacher, I could choose to deal with only Trump-positive articles in a course that introduces the US political system, for example. And as a teacher, I can counter this kind of teaching of one truth by approaching the issue as a discussion. Critical thinking, reviewing background information, and relying on researched knowledge are the cornerstones with which we steer students to university studies and living in society.
Critical thinking, reviewing background information, and relying on researched knowledge are the cornerstones with which we steer students to university studies and living in society.
The Comenius’ Oath also requires teachers to support the right of everyone to form their own political beliefs. When the oath was introduced in 2017, Pirjo also brought the issue up at the Educa fair.
– It is good that the Comenius’ Oath clearly states the value base of the profession. The oath can help non-professionals, in particular, to understand better what this is all about. However, it is only in the everyday work the teachers learn how ideals are put into practice.
People, above all
Pirjo has become familiar with the ongoing reforms in the work of an upper secondary school teacher. In Jyväskylä, a number of upper secondary schools have been closed down, and she has witnessed the last days of two of those schools. At the moment, the upper secondary school's new core curriculum and compulsory education reform both add to her work, both of which will enter into force in autumn 2021.
– Change is a familiar and permanent part of the job, but too much is too much. Upper secondary school teachers are at risk of exhaustion perhaps more than ever.
Reforms should safeguard the essential parts of the profession.
– The increased sizes of units and teaching groups threaten the humanity of teaching; teachers do not get to know students well enough.
Reforms should safeguard the essential parts of the profession.
The coronavirus pandemic has also cast a shadow.
– We are burdened by the teaching arrangements during exceptional circumstances and concerned about students’ well-being. Distance learning is a poison to natural interaction, as non-verbal communication is of great importance. In this work, the human factor is important, not just the ability to inflect Spanish verbs, for example.