Part 2
Schools are so much more than just schools. Teachers serve many roles, especially during the recent pandemic times. Teachers are mentors, psychologists, crisis teams, coaches etc. Teachers inspire, motivate and guide students through their school time. We all know how under paid teachers and other educators are all over the world, but fortunately there are also other ways to show appreciation to the outstanding educators. In this two-part series of articles we are introducing how educators are recognized in Estonia, Netherlands, Finland, Iceland and Sweden. In the first article we introduced the examples of Estonia and Netherlands. In this article we will focus on Finland, Iceland and Sweden.
Example of Finland - Eija Liisa Sokka-Meaney
Several societies award a prize for teachers every year like the Finnish Foundation for Teachnology Promotion (Universities), The Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters give a teacher prize and some others. Many Universities give a good teacher prize usually every year to some teacher in that university, e.g. at the University of Eastern Finland or the Young Teacher of the year prize, University of Oulu.
Many subject societies give an annual prize to a teacher in their subject such as physics teachers, textile teachers, the Textile Teacher of the Year, the Technical teacher of the year, the teacher of mathematical subjects, technology teachers, biology and geography teachers society and often these teachers work at schools for example Globaalikasvatuksen opettajapalkinto the Teacher prize of Global education given by Plan International.
International Teachers’ Day is celebrated on the 5th of October and it is noted in many schools, news and also the The Trade Union of Education in Finland, OAJ (https://www.oaj.fi/en/). The Trade Union of Education in Finland has chosen recently the prize winner - i.e. the Finnish education influencer - and it is the Finnish teacher. This is due to the work teachers have done in the pandemic situation.
Finland also has a very good example how to use social media for recognising educators. Kiitos koulu – Thank you school campaign launched by Studeo, teaching materials publisher, in January (https://www.kiitoskoulu.fi/kiitosseina/). Studeo started a link “Thank your teacher – Kiitä opea” just by pressing a button on an app and writing your note on a wall. It has been tremendously popular, there are already over thousand thanking notes on the wall.
Example of Iceland - Ingileif, Ingibjörg
The Icelandic Education Award.
Last year the Office of the President of Iceland with the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, the Ministry of Transport and Local Government, Universities, Unions, other education authorities and interest groups established The Icelandic Education Award. The agreement between parties is for five years. The goal is to draw attention to ambitious and excellent school and leisure activities and encourage reform in education for children and young people. The award applies to pre-schools, elementary schools, upper secondary schools, art schools and leisure and youth activities. The award is granted in three categories: Excellent work at schools or education reform, Excellent teacher, and Excellent development project.
In addition a Motivation Award is handed out to an individual, group or society that has initiated education reform or shown excellence in their work. Nominations, 3-5 in each category, are announced each year on the 5th of October, the International Day of Teachers. On the 13th of November 2020 the Awards were handed out to the winners for the first time:
1. Dalskoli (dalskoli.is), a Primary school in Reykjavik, was awarded the prize for excellent work in their school or school reform for the development of interdisciplinary creative teaching methods in so called work-shops and job development projects where teachers research their own work (Forsíða - Dalskóli (dalskoli.is)).
2. Birte Harksen, a teacher at the Health pre-school in Urdarholl, Kopavogur, was awarded the prize as an excellent teacher for outstanding teaching and an initiative to strengthen creative and play-centered activities in pre-schools by creating the web-sites: Children and Music (Forsíða (bornogtonlist.net)), A play with books (Forsíða (leikuradbokum.net)) and The magic of letters (Stafagaldur - Forsíða).
3. Workshops in Langholtsskoli, Reykjavik, were awarded the prize for Excellent development project for increasing interdisciplinary activities with emphasis on creativity, key-competences and the use of information technology in the studies (Þróunarverkefni - útikennsla - Langholtsskóli (langholtsskoli.is)).
The Motivation Prize was handed out to Ingvi Hrannar Omarsson, teacher and entrepreneur and the group UTIS that is a learning society of pioneers in teaching methods. The prize is for outstanding support to job-development of Icelandic teachers by sharing progressive ideas about creative schools, innovations and information technology where the student is in the center. Ingvi Hrannar Omarsson was a key-note speaker at the DKG International Conference in Reykjavik 2019 and was very well received by the participants that thought highly of his contribution. Shortly after the conference he started studies in Design and Technology at Stanford, USA (http://ingvihrannar.com/).
Example of Sweden - The teacher gala Marianne Skardéus
November 2020 was the fifth year in a row that students from all Sweden nominated their favorite teachers from five different categories of educators; then the teachers were appointed by a jury. Normally there is a big gala evening but as the COVID-19 stopped this; The program presenter, Mark Levengood, took a grand tour around the country to give praise to our skillful teachers in their local schools.
Quote:
“My teacher has changed me to the better and that is why I started the Teachers´ Gala in order to have the spotlight on the teachers of our country”, says Beata Kull, the founder of The teacher gala.
Through the gala we recognize the important work made by the teachers of our country and can at the same time highlight all the good school results, and this is done through the participation of the students.
The purpose of the Foundation Lärargalan is to strengthen the teachers´ corps and is also of great importance as it provides in-service training, networking, contacts with students and with working life.
Our Crown Princess Victoria and her husband Prince Daniel are supporting the Gala through their Foundation with the purpose to counteract exclusion and support good health for children and young people in Sweden.
Quote:
"The teacher gala is an excellent initiative" – Nobel prize laureate: Tomas Lindahl
Quote:
”The most essential for children of today and thus also for the future of the world are two things : what values they get from their parents and that they have good teachers at school,” said Martin Lorentzonm founder of Spotify, supporting the teacher gala.
“The best we can do for the future of Sweden is to support our teachers,” said Niklas Zennström, founder of Skype and a supporter of the teacher gala.
” Being a teacher is about leadership. Having the ability to make every single individual to believe in him/herself, to make decisions and to develop individually and in a group. A good teacher is a person that is involved, spreads knowledge, is clear and shows respect,” said Carolina Klüft, former Atletico with Olympic medals.
Carolina Klüft
These qualities are also those who are mentioned in the nominations from the students. Often being mentioned is the encouragement the students get and the feeling that the teacher also is a mentor and a friend to whom they can turn with all kinds of problems.
It is a great pleasure to share such stories where educators are valued and highlighted for their immense work and role in the society and these are only few. I invite you to also share your stories about how educators are recognized and appreciated in your institutions, home towns or countries.
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