FRUIT HEIGHTS—Kids are kids no matter where they are in the world but they’re not all educated the same. Fourth-grade teacher and graduate student Kristine Nichols experienced the differences first hand in a WSU 2024 Nordic Education Study Abroad 12-day trip to Finland, Estonia, and Sweden as part of her master’s program at Weber State University.

“We were there to study the schools in these countries,” said Nichols. “Finland has the highest PISA (Program for International Student Assessment) scores in the world. We wanted to find out what they’re doing and what we could use for our education system.”

Nichols teaches at the DiVinci Academy Flex charter school in Kaysville. “It’s a hybrid school,” she said. “Students come one and a half days a week with a home based aspect. On the one in person day they hone in on science, writing, music, drama, specialty math, art and computer technology that rotate through the year.”

On the half day they learn sewing, cooking and have P.E., said Nichols. “It’s a newer approach since COVID. Since then the school has really been booming.”

Nichols said the first thing she learned when she got there was that not every country has the same type of education. “You rarely get a chance to see inside of other schools. Seeing their everyday life was fascinating to me. We walked three miles through the forest to school. Little kids walk, ride a bike or take public transportation in rain, snow or sun. These little people do this by themselves.”

The forest is like “Frozen,” said Nichols. “We walked on gravel roads and wooden planks to the school. It was quite the experience.”

If it’s too far the government pays for them to get to school, she said. “It’s all free. From early childhood all the way to a doctorate degree is free. Lunch is free and daycare before school is paid for by the government. In 2020 the government made it mandatory that all children have to go to school.”

They were split into two different groups to visit classes, she said. “You have to take your shoes off and walk in your stocking feet through the school. The school was super, super clean.”

They place a great deal of emphasis on students’ emotional well being, said Nichols. “Schools in the Nordic countries have counselors, a dentist, nurse or others at their disposal anytime to meet the needs of the school on the front line. Kids can’t learn if they’re not feeling well.”

Parents there are not involved in school like they are here, she said. “Most parents both work and the educational system is well organized.”

Nordic countries prioritize learning over testing, said Nichols. “They teach life skills over specific content. They work in groups with each other to verbalize what they’re learning. More teaching skills than teaching concepts. The approach is different than you would imagine.”

They’re learning to solve problems, she said. “There is no high stakes testing until the PISA test. We’re always testing our kids here.”

Teachers are given a lot of autonomy, Nichols said. “They have to have a master’s degree. They’re highly trained so they can focus on skills in the classroom.”

The whole system is built on trust and love, she said. “Students are always giving hugs. We can’t hug here but not in Finland. It creates a beautiful student. It takes away the fear.”

A child’s well being is critical, said Nichols. “It’s the top priority there. They allow children to try different things and follow their passion. They want them to be successful.”

All the teachers are called by their first names, she said. “It’s a very personal and intimate setting. Here we have Mr. Mrs. Miss. I’ll have to figure out if we can let those go. Instead of a teacher centered classroom it’s a student centered classroom.”

Here some children have the fear of making a mistake, said Nichols. “Not in these countries. If you make a mistake it’s cool – let’s try again. They just love those kids.”