Magazine - ESHA

long in school – up to twelve hours a day. As a result, he worries
that children are losing the capacity to think for themselves, being
overly dependent on teacher instruction in a school climate where
the apples of the parents’ eyes are hothoused to success along
very narrow curricular grounds. Delegates were amused to hear
that Principals who run schools which don’t offer suffi cient recre-
ation or exercise programmes may be “punished”.
Pasi Sahlberg insisted that in Finland the emphasis is on equity
rather than educational success. Trust in the professionalism of
teachers is at the heart of their success, combined with a pupil-
centred curriculum. Flexibility and adaptability are at the heart of
their successful system and leadership is central to bringing this
about. He reminded delegates that the PISA study is organised by
an economic body but Finland is equally concerned with the quality
of their society and the achievement of social equity which is as
important as fi nishing fi rst in the PISA rankings.
Jim Gibbons, educational consultant to the Alberta School Boards
Association, highlighted the consistency of educational investment
and funding in the province. Money spent on leadership was well
spent. he believed, but additional supports for children with spe-
cial needs and teaching methodologies which promote inclusion
had the effect of raising all scores for the PISA cohort. Delegates
appreciated the opportunity to interrogate the PISA process but in
truth, none of the three top performers were in a position to state
defi nitively why they had scored well in the assessment.
ICP 2011 TORONTO, CANADA
Details of the Council meeting and papers from the Conference
are available on the ICP website: www.icponline.org
ESHA MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2011 17