Fixing American Education pt 1: Teacher Education
We are not the first country to recognize the need to revamp its educational system. Others have been down this road before us and have many insights to offer. How to do it right. How to do it wrong. I generally think that gradual change which brings along all involved parties is best. However, the federal Dept. of Education has been gutted so we’ll just have to push for a rebuild from the ground up.
At one time Finland’s educational system was rock bottom. Much, much worse than ours is today. Their country was emerging from the social and economic devastation of WW2. Literacy was low and many rural kids had difficulty accessing education beyond early grade school. Nevertheless, they now have one of the best educated work forces, one of the lowest rates of illiteracy, consistently score high in quality education, and…the word “joy” is written into their educational plan. So, how did they turn things around? For an insightful and in depth answer you can look for a book called Finnish Lessons 3.0, but let’s hit the highlights.
They started by raising the knowledge level and education of their teachers. Existing teachers were given comprehensive on-going education into the cognitive science of learning. The goal was to raise both the level and content of teacher education. The long term plan was for all credentialed teachers to have master’s degrees. But the content of what was being taught was also addressed. The expectation was that future teachers would all be professionals who were constantlyresearching how learning occurs. By which I mean, both conducting studies within their own classroom and in on-going study of the most current research results.
So as Finland began raising the educational level of existing teachers, they gradually raised the bar on requirements for teachers entering their schooling and for obtaining their credentials.
Frederick County in Maryland is attempting to do something similar with early success for its students.[1] This diverse school district outside Baltimore has 48,000 students with 69 schools and is using learning science research to improve student learning at scale. The underlying premise of the program is that educators have not been taught how the brain learns and have not been taught which teaching techniques are proven to be effective. From The74:
“The district has made educating faculty and staff on cognitive science a top priority. In 2017, Frederick County formed a partnership with The Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning and began training teachers, instructional coaches and leaders in the bedrock principles of the science of learning, including an understanding of how memory works and its pivotal role in academic learning,”
In addition to sending existing teachers to train in cognitive science and its classroom applications, Frederick County also on-boards new teachers with a 3 year science of learning program that includes coaching. Principals and administrators are getting trained in cognitive science as well. Funding and time for these classes is fully incorporated within the county’s professional development budget.
Delta County Colorado, a rural school district is taking a similar approach in focusing on teaching the science of learning to teachers and administrators. It’s still early days yet but by a variety of measures this new approach is having a significant impact.
The through line is extending the link from these school systems to teacher education programs. Frederick County is working with local Hood College to encourage them to shift to a science of learning approach in their teacher education program. What you may not realize is that most teacher education programs are disconnected from the departments where cognitive science is learning how the brain learns. Yes, really. Most teachers in America are taught a variety of teaching techniques that reflect unresearched approaches. Some of these are newer. Some are older. They are based primarily on ideas born of classroom experiences and conceptual theories. But none are based on the science of how our brains learn.
Cognitive science is relatively new and currently making vast leaps in our understanding of the diverse set of brains that makes up your average classroom. Teacher education programs have not kept up. This is actually a relatively easy fix. People who go into teaching as a profession generally are curious and invested in their own learning. So we set a high bar for admission into teacher education programs. Then we just need to get them the right material.
If post WW2 Finland could do this…then so can we.
Other resources:
National Council on Teacher Quality reviews elementary teacher preparation programs against seven research-based standards that are proven to have the greatest impact on teacher effectiveness and student learning outcomes.
Watch for the following Fixing Education articles over the next weeks:
Pt. 2: Why We Need to Ditch the Testing
pt. 3: Why Common Core/ No Child Left Behind etc. All Failed
pt. 4: Why Accountability Failed and What The Real Focus Needs to Be
pt. 5: Neuro-atypical Learners Are One Third of All Kids. What Does This Mean?
pt. 6: Class Size
pt. 7: Free Post-Secondary Education. Why it Matters
pt. 8: Charter Schools. The Good and the Bad
pt. 9: Poverty and Education
pt. 10: The Vital Importance of Play
pt. 11: What Might New American Schooling Look Like?
I’m working on a book about public education reform and special education issues. If you are a parent, teacher, or school professional, I’d like to tell your story. Everything will, of course, be confidential. You can reach me at: 241kcawley@gmail.com
Some References: (you can expect this list to grow)
2. What Happens When 48K Student District Commits To The Science Of Learning, The74million, Holly Korbey, 9/23/2024
3. History and Background of Student Testing, Education Writers Association, 6/20/2023
4. A Nation At Risk, analysis by Wikipedia
5. The Manufactured Crisis: Myths Fraud and the Attack on America’s Public schools, David Beliner and Bruce Biddle, 8/26/1996
6. Report: How A Non-Profit Charter School Can Be Run For Profit, Peter Greene, Forbes, 3/19/2021
7. Chartered For Profit: The Hidden World Of Charter Schools Operated For Financial Gain, Network for Public Education
8. California Strikes a Major Blow to For Profit Charter Schools, Derek Black, Education Law Prof Blog, 9/10/2018
9. Peter Gray, A Brief History of Education, Substacks Play Makes Us Human, 6/24/2025
You can also follow me and read previous essays on my free Substack site: Kathleen Cawley for Navigating Parenthood or on Medium.
[1] What happens when a 48K school district commits to the science of learning? Holly Korbey, The74, 9/23/2024