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It’s no secret students in the United States continue to earn lower
and lower scores on reading, mathematics and science assessments
each year, a trend for the past 20 years. The U.S. ranks in the middle
against other nations, even though measures intended to improve
educational outcomes, such as standardized testing, have increased
over the years.
Teachers must spend more time teaching to specific standardized
test requirements, so time for physical education has declined
nationwide to make room for increased classroom instruction.
However, TCU’s Debbie Rhea, Ed. D., professor and associate dean for
health sciences and research, says strong research shows children
who engage in physical activity and play do better academically.
Inspiredbyher sabbatical in late2012 inFinland tostudy that country’s
successful education model and also borrowing from the well-
respected Montessori system that promotes student independence
and working within a child’s natural psychological development,
Rhea is in the early stages of a study to develop a more-inclusive
learning environment for U.S. students and teachers. Project ISIS
(Innovating Strategies, Inspiring Students) aims to increase physical
activity/recess in schools, add character development as a content
area, teach fewer content classes each day in the lower grades and
transition from standardized-test assessments to developmentally-
based evaluations.
“Over the past 10 years or so, Finland has gone from really struggling
to compete against other nations academically to among the top
ranked worldwide in science, reading and math,” says Rhea, who
chose to study the Finnish system after watching a “Dan Rather
Reports” broadcast and reading several articles about its students’
achievements. “Physical activity/recess is a bigger player in the
schools in Finland than it is here.”
In fact, Finnish schools require students to go outside and play every
day regardless of the weather conditions. Teachers must go outside
as well, and physical activity and creative play are interspersed with
academics throughout the school day.
There are no mandated standardized tests in Finland, apart from one
exam at the end of students’ senior years, Rhea says.
By comparison, most public elementary public schools in the U.S.
offer a maximum of one recess period per day. Rhea says many other
schools don’t offer recess anymore because administrators want
students in the classrooms to prepare for standardized tests.
The U.S. also spends 30 percent more per student than Finland, and
studies show it graduates only 75.5 percent of students to Finland’s
93 percent.
INNOVATING STRATEGIES,
INSPIRING STUDENTS
PILOT PROGRAM AIMS TO INCREASE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES
By Stephanie Patrick
IN FACT, FINNISH SCHOOLS
REQUIRE STUDENTS TO GO
OUTSIDE AND PLAY EVERY DAY
REGARDLESS OF THE
WEATHER CONDITIONS.
FEATURES
Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences ·
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