Berkeley! Kuvia ennakkoäänestyksestä Finnish Brotherhood Hallilta 9.4.2011

10.4.2011 08:02 Jukka Turunen

Äänestysmatka Berkeleyn Finnish Brotherhood Hallille jää mieleen varmastikin ikuisiksi ajoiksi. Jo kauan on tuntunut, että me suomalaiset olemme nyt tekemässä itsenäisen Suomen kannalta välttämätöntä parlamentaarista kansannousua. Tuo tunne sai tänään kohdallani vahvistuksen arvoisissaan puitteissa vanhalla suomalaisella kerhotalolla pohjoisessa Kaliforniassa.

Äänestyspaikkana toiminut Finnish Brotherhood Hall on näkemisen ja kokemisen arvoinen talo. Se on myös konkreettinen muistutus siitä, että suomalaisten kannattaa kovinakin aikoina pitää yhtä. Äänestystilanne oli leppoisa. Taustalla soi suomalainen iskelmä ja pitkään Yhdysvalloissa asunut talkooväki tarjoili kauempaakin saapuneille äänestäjille kahvia ja itseleivottua rusinapitkoa. Tunnelma oli lämmin ja vapautunut. Paikalla olleita yhdisti suomalaisuus ja suomen kieli. Oltiin kuin sukujuhlissa, siellä jossain, impivaarassa.

Ei siis ollut vaikeaa pyöräyttää äänestyslippuun perussuomalaisen ehdokkaan äänestysnumeroa. Suomi on nyt jälleenrakennettava vihervasemmiston aiheuttamien tuhojen jäljiltä. Suomen itsenäisyys on pelastettava EU:lta. Suomi on säilytettävä suomalaisena - ja vastavuoroisesti Eurooppa on pidettävä eurooppalaisena.

Nyt on tekojen aika.

Kukaan muu ei voi Suomea pelastaa - ellemme me suomalaiset itse.

Äänestä viisaasti!

PS. Kiitokset Kirstille, Kallelle, Irmalle ja muille!

Why We Should Steal Finland's Education System

Why We Should Steal Finland's Education System

The transformation of the Finns' education system began some 40 years ago as the key propellent of the country's economic recovery plan. Educators had little idea it was so successful until 2000, when the first results from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), a standardized test given to 15-year-olds in more than 40 global venues, revealed Finnish youth to be the best young readers in the world. Three years later, they led in math. By 2006, Finland was first out of 57 countries (and a few cities) in science. In the 2009 PISA scores released last year, the nation came in second in science, third in reading and sixth in math among nearly half a million students worldwide. "I'm still surprised," said Arjariita Heikkinen, principal of a Helsinki comprehensive school. "I didn't realize we were that good."

In the United States, which has muddled along in the middle for the past decade, government officials have attempted to introduce marketplace competition into public schools. In recent years, a group of Wall Street financiers and philanthropists such as Bill Gates have put money behind private-sector ideas, such as vouchers, data-driven curriculum and charter schools, which have doubled in number in the past decade. President Obama, too, has apparently bet on compe­tition. His Race to the Top initiative invites states to compete for federal dollars using tests and other methods to measure teachers, a philosophy that would not fly in Finland. "I think, in fact, teachers would tear off their shirts," said Timo Heikkinen, a Helsinki principal with 24 years of teaching experience. "If you only measure the statistics, you miss the human aspect."

There's a brief summary of how they did it. I think the first and most important step was making a decision that education was important.

In 1963, the Finnish Parlia-ment made the bold decision to choose public education as its best shot at economic recovery. "I call this the Big Dream of Finnish education," said Sahlberg, whose upcoming book, Finnish Lessons, is scheduled for release in October. "It was simply the idea that every child would have a very good public school. If we want to be competitive, we need to educate everybody. It all came out of a need to survive."

Practically speaking--and Finns are nothing if not practical--the decision meant that goal would not be allowed to dissipate into rhetoric. Lawmakers landed on a deceptively simple plan that formed the foundation for everything to come. Public schools would be organized into one system of comprehensive schools, or peruskoulu, for ages 7 through 16. Teachers from all over the nation contributed to a national curriculum that provided guidelines, not prescriptions. Besides Finnish and Swedish (the country's second official language), children would learn a third language (English is a favorite) usually beginning at age 9. Resources were distributed equally. As the comprehensive schools improved, so did the upper secondary schools (grades 10 through 12). The second critical decision came in 1979, when reformers required that every teacher earn a fifth-year master's degree in theory and practice at one of eight state universities--at state expense. From then on, teachers were effectively granted equal status with doctors and lawyers. Applicants began flooding teaching programs, not because the salaries were so high but because autonomy and respect made the job attractive. In 2010, some 6,600 applicants vied for 660 primary school training slots, according to Sahlberg. By the mid-1980s, a final set of initiatives shook the classrooms free from the last vestiges of top-down regulation. Control over policies shifted to town councils. The national curriculum was distilled into broad guidelines. National math goals for grades one through nine, for example, were reduced to a neat ten pages. Sifting and sorting children into so-called ability groupings was eliminated. All children--clever or less so--were to be taught in the same classrooms, with lots of special teacher help available to make sure no child really would be left behind. The inspectorate closed its doors in the early '90s, turning accountability and inspection over to teachers and principals. "We have our own motivation to succeed because we love the work," said Louhivuori. "Our incentives come from inside."


Reprinted From : http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/660964/why_we_should_steal_finland%27s_education_system/#paragraph3

Berkeley! Kuvia ennakkoäänestyksestä Finnish Brotherhood Hallilta 9.4.2011

10.4.2011 08:02 Jukka Turunen

Berkeleyn Finnish Brotherhood Hall.

Positiivista syrjintää.

Juhlava sali.

Wanhaa suomalaista designia.

Äänestysmatka Berkeleyn Finnish Brotherhood Hallille jää mieleen varmastikin ikuisiksi ajoiksi. Jo kauan on tuntunut, että me suomalaiset olemme nyt tekemässä itsenäisen Suomen kannalta välttämätöntä parlamentaarista kansannousua. Tuo tunne sai tänään kohdallani vahvistuksen arvoisissaan puitteissa vanhalla suomalaisella kerhotalolla pohjoisessa Kaliforniassa.

Äänestyspaikkana toiminut Finnish Brotherhood Hall on näkemisen ja kokemisen arvoinen talo. Se on myös konkreettinen muistutus siitä, että suomalaisten kannattaa kovinakin aikoina pitää yhtä. Äänestystilanne oli leppoisa. Taustalla soi suomalainen iskelmä ja pitkään Yhdysvalloissa asunut talkooväki tarjoili kauempaakin saapuneille äänestäjille kahvia ja itseleivottua rusinapitkoa. Tunnelma oli lämmin ja vapautunut. Paikalla olleita yhdisti suomalaisuus ja suomen kieli. Oltiin kuin sukujuhlissa, siellä jossain, impivaarassa.

Ei siis ollut vaikeaa pyöräyttää äänestyslippuun perussuomalaisen ehdokkaan äänestysnumeroa. Suomi on nyt jälleenrakennettava vihervasemmiston aiheuttamien tuhojen jäljiltä. Suomen itsenäisyys on pelastettava EU:lta. Suomi on säilytettävä suomalaisena - ja vastavuoroisesti Eurooppa on pidettävä eurooppalaisena.

Nyt on tekojen aika.

Kukaan muu ei voi Suomea pelastaa - ellemme me suomalaiset itse.

Äänestä viisaasti!

PS. Kiitokset Kirstille, Kallelle, Irmalle ja muille!

Share Your Home, Change the World! Host a YFU Exchange Student!

Dear Members of the UKFB&S,

I am a former Finnish high school exchange student to the U.S.– and currently working here in Finland for international exchange organization called Youth For Understanding (YFU). I am personally forever grateful to the Muto family in Michigan, who took me to their home and hearts as their second daughter back in 1995. We are still in touch, after all these years.

The reason why I am writing you is that in 2011 the U.S. State Department has made some severe restrictions when it comes to organizations such as ours recruiting American families to host our wonderfully international exchange students this year. These protocol changes have led to an incredibly challenging situation in the U.S.: there are still hundreds of wonderful, smart, funny and smiling teenagers -- just like I was only 16 years ago -- waiting for information about their future American families.

Today, as YFU USA celebrates 60 years of international student exchange, us former exchange students are filled with gratitude and admiration for the literally hundreds of thousands of volunteer host families in the United States who have enriched the lives of international students for generations. The value of this unbroken process of interaction and bonding across the borders of our planet cannot be measured, but it certainly weighs heavily on the scales of the best qualities that humankind has to offer.

As in the past six decades, this year once again one hundred Finnish teenagers are anxiously looking forward to spending an entire school year with an American family somewhere in the United States. Some of them are still waiting for the information of their own American family… Knowing that your organization is well connected and there is definitely a circle of friends of Finland around you, we are now asking for help from your organization. Could you please forward a short message to your members or post it in your newsletter or website as soon as possible -- maybe they would like to broaden their family's view of the world, for even a short few weeks this August, by hosting one of our exchange students from one of the over 50 different nations? Perhaps you could even get to know my fellow Finn in your home?

Below you can find two short messages which some of my international colleagues have shared thru emails and Facebook - maybe this is something you could post on your wall, or mention to some of your contacts?

I hope I am not asking for too much -- as said, all help would be so much appreciated by my colleagues in YFU-USA. Your local YFU representatives can be reached at www.yfu-usa.org or by calling 1-800-872-0200.

Thank you so much for all your help, and warmest greetings from Helsinki

Kirsi Keskitalo
YFU Finland

P.S. I am happy to answer any possible questions!
-------

Reading about the horrible events in Norway, now more than ever is the time to stand up for multiculturalism and show international solidarity. One way to do this is by inviting a young (15-18 year-old) exchange student from another country into your home for a few weeks, a semester or a school year.

Call 1-800-872-0200 and key in your zip code for details. Or register on the website www.yfu-usa.org. Share Your Home, Change the World! Host a YFU Exchange Student.

-- AND --

Message to my American friends - and their friends: maybe you’re expecting in August and don’t even know it yet!! Consider hosting a YFU teen exchange student arriving in August, whether as a short-term arrival family or for the school year. Call 1-800-872-0200 and key in your zip code for details. Or register on the Youth For Understanding Website. Share Your Home, Change the World! Host a YFU Exchange Student - just the kind I once was!

Sunday, August 7, 4 p.m. in Palo Alto - Walentina Choir from Helsinki, Finland

Sunday, August 7, 4 p.m.

Walentina Choir from Helsinki, Finland
40th Anniversary Tour


First Presbyterian Church
1140 Cowper St.; Palo Alto, CA
(between Kingsley & Lincoln)

The Finlandia Foundation South Bay Chapter doesn't usually have a summer event, as so many of our planners are vacationing in Finland, but this year we can offer you one that we are sure you will enjoy. Members Birgitta and Ulf Strom, music lovers and performers, have been kind enough to arrange the appearance of this distinguished choir, and Don Fidler secured the venue at the church. We owe thanks to them all. By now you should have received an email with the flyer.

What is "Walentina kören," which is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a US tour? Well, it is a mixed Finnish-Swedish choir currently counting 35 members, based in Helsinki. A large part of its repertoire is sung in Swedish, but they also perform in Finnish, English and other languages, and have been featured internationally.

Refreshments will be served after the concert. A $10 donation is suggested.

FREE LECTURE : "BRAVE QUESTIONS" – FREE Education Seminar - Tues, Aug. 9, 2011 - Coinciding With FinnFest San Diego

"BRAVE QUESTIONS"

Free Education Seminar

Tuesday, August 9, 2011 in San Diego

Education Seminar is the first ever Finnish-American public education event organized in conjunction with the FinnFest2011. The event brings together teachers, administrators, parents, and others who are interested in and affected by public education. Perspectives from the US and Finland will be shared. Themes focus on “Brave Questions” including successful practices, teacher education, early childhood education, bullying, school violence, special education, and foreign language instruction.

The keynote speaker is a world renowned school reform scholar, Dr. Pasi Sahlberg, who was previously at the World Bank. An expert panel follows his keynote. Break-out sessions in the afternoon allow participants to choose topics in their field of interest. This first-ever Education Seminar aims to allow people to network and build cross-cultural connections.

THE EVENT IS FREE (INCLUDING LUNCH). PLEASE REGISTER ON THE LINK BELOW TO SAVE YOURSELF A SPACE.

http://www.finnfest2011.com/education-seminar/registration

For additional information please see the attachment and visit the website

https://www.finnfest2011.com/education-seminar/speakers

*********************************

Tiina Itkonen, PhD

Associate Professor of Education

California State University Channel Islands

One University Drive

Camarillo, CA 93012

(805)437-3294

Mirja Covarrubias

tel: +1-310-452-1161

e-mail: mecovarrubias@verizon.net

Harry Siitonen's "Sports So Far" [Track & Field and Hockey]

GOOD SPORTS for FAR for Aug. 2011

Ari Mannio was the only Finnish event winner in the European Premier League Championships June 18-19 at Ismir, Turkey, when he threw his javelin for 81.24 meters. Jonathan Åstrand ran the 2nd fastest Finnish 200 meters ever in 20.50 to meet the A Standard for the Daegu World Championships. Jaysoma Ndere of Norway was the winner in 20.32. Turkey won the team championships, while Finnish athletes were 8th.

Merja Korpela (below) came close to the women’s Finnish record in the hammer when she flung the orb for 69.30 meters at the Kuortane Elite Games on June 25.. It plopped on the ground only 0.33 short of Mia Strömmer’s old national record.

Antti Kempas, 30, won a 50K racewalk at Dublin, Ireland on June 26 in a time of 4:02:36 to qualify for the B Standard for the Daegu World Championships. Jarkko Kinnunen has already achieved the A standard for the 50K walk at Daegu. Speaking of Kinnunen, he walked a personal best of 2:12.06 in the 30K Finnish National Championships at Kauhava on June 12. It was the 3rd fastest 30K ever walked by a Finn, superceded only by past European 50K Champ Reima Salonen and past 50K World Champ Valentin Kononen. Anne Halkivaha won the women’s 20K walk at Kauhava in 1:42:46, to successfully defend her 2010 title.

Finnish National Hockey League millionaires are reaping even more bucks in contract signings for the forthcoming 2011-12 season. Forward Jussi Jokinen, 28, was content to re-sign for a three-year contract with the Caroline Hurricanes to total $9 million. He was just about to become a free agent and obviously the ‘Canes didn’t want to lose him. Then, Ville Leino signed a 6-year pact with the Buffalo Sabres for $17 million. He played for Philadelphia last season who had decided to let him go. A lucky firing for Ville! Veteran Sami Salo, 36, of the Stanley Cup runner-up Vancouver Canucks got a year’s extension on his contract for 2 million. And a lucky break for Sean Bergenheim, 27, who played last year for the Tampa Bay Lightning, who signed on with the Florida Panthers for $11 million, with a 2.75 million annual guarantee.

Finland’s Minea Blomqvist has had some so-so seasons in recent years on the US LPGA golf tour. But at LPGA’s Wegman Championships at Pittsford, NY, she started like a house of fire, with a pair of 69s in the opening two rounds, to put her in 3rd place from the lead. But as so frequently happens to her, Blomqvist fell apart on the final two circuits with scores of 77 and 78. So she ended up in a tie for 69th place to earn a measly $6,145 while the world’s top women’s golfer Yani Tseng of Taiwan, 22, won the tournament going away by 10 strokes and took home $375,000.

Sami Itani of Finland scored a personal best of 7710 points to finish fifth in the European Cup Super League Decathlon Team Championships at Torun, Poland July 2-3. Winner was Andres Roja of Estonia with 8114. Russia won the team championship with Finland eighth. The same weekend Finland’s hardy perennial Niina Kelo, 31, was 7th in the European Cup Women’s Premier League Heptahlon Championships at Bressanone, Italy. Kelo was the top Finn with 5718 points and won the shotput and javelin throws outright. Heptathlon winner was Karolina Tyrminska of Poland with 6297. Poland became the team champion while Finnish women were 5th.

Last, and least, your scribe is tooting his own horn. Since I can’t straighten my knees out enough
anymore to compete in my beloved racewalking without getting disqualified, I thought I’d try a hand in track and field for the first time in about 35 years, this time in the masters men’s age 85-89 division. I entered the Pacific Association Masters Championships at Folsom, CA on June 11 and took part in the shotput, and 100 and 200-meter track runs. The results weren’t much but with the paucity of men in my age division, I came home with two first place medals and one third. The following weekend, I entered a masters invitational meet at the University of California track at Davis. I was the oldest athlete on the track and the only one in the 85-59 year bracket. I came home with a haul of four chunks of the gold— in the shot, the 50, 100, and 200-m runs. My secret weapon wasn’t athletic prowess, but old age. Hey, when you live in a senior housing complex where half the residents are on walkers or wheelchairs, I just want to celebrate the fact that I can still hold my own on the track without falling on my face. Older is bolder!

Contribution by Harry Siitonen


CONGRATULATIONS, HARRY!!!

Upcoming Events : Berkeley Historical Society - FREE Admission, donations gladly accepted

Berkeley Historical Society Announcement

Programs in conjunction with the current BHS exhibit,
"Consumers Cooperative of Berkeley – A Noble Venture," closing Sept. 10

Friday, August 12, 4 pm
"Looking Back at the Co-op in the 1970s and 1980s"
Speakers: Mike Fullerton, former Co-op News editor (1976-1988) and Alice Gates, former Co-op board member in the later years. Bring your questions. Berkeley History Center, 1931 Center Street. Admission free. Donations accepted.

Sunday, September 4, 3 pm
"Effect of Co-op on Berkeley's Culture and Politics"
Speakers: Bob Schildgen, former Co-op News editor, Chuck Wollenberg, author and history professor, and Linda Rosen, co-curator of the exhibit and BHS past president. Question and answer period to follow. Berkeley History Center, 1931 Center Street. Admission free. Donations accepted.

Berkeley Historical Society
Veterans Memorial Building
1931 Center Street, Berkeley
Telephone (510) 848-0181
Wheelchair Accessible
http://www.berkeleyhistoricalsociety.org/

August 2 at 10 p.m., KQED / PBS Channel 9 will show "Steam of Life" on its POV show (the ritual of men's Finnish Sauna)

PBS to Show Finnish Film PBS will show the film Steam of Life on its POV program on August 2 at 10 p.m., KQED (Channel 9).

Here is a description of the film: "From a land of long, dark winters comes Steam of Life, a moody, comic and moving study of Finnish men as framed by the national obsession with the sauna. There, they come together to sweat out not only the grime of contemporary life, but also their grief, hopes, joys and memories. Beautifully and hauntingly shot, the acclaimed film provides a surprising glimpse into the lives of Finnish men and a remarkable depiction of the troubled and often reticent hearts of contemporary Western men. (60 minutes)"

Learn More, or view the film via live streaming starting August 3 at http://www.pbs.org/pov/steamoflife/

Watch the full episode. See more POV.

Kuoro jatkaa täältä San Diego:on Finn Fest:iin ja esiintyy matkalla Carmel Mission:issa tiistaina 11:00.

Suomalainen Walentina Kuoro (Walentina Kören) vierailee SF Bay Areassa Finlandia Foundationin sponsoroimana ensi viikolla ja esintyy Palo Altossa sunnuntaina elokuun 7 päivänä klo 16:00 (4 PM). Paikka: First Presbyterian Church; Osoite: 1140 Cowper Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301. Esiintymisen jälkeen "Meet the Choir Reception" jossa luvassa kahvia/viiniä ja purtavaa.

Kuoro esiintyy myös FAHA:ssa lauantaina elokuun kuudentena klo 14:00 (2PM) jos sopii paremmin.

Kuoro jatkaa täältä San Diego:on Finn Fest:iin ja esiintyy matkalla Carmel Mission:issa tiistaina 11:00.