In Finland, classes in recognizing fake news, disinformation

Being able to identify hoaxes, avoid scams, and debunk propaganda is a civic skill required in today's information society. That's why the curriculum of students in Finland includes media literacy lessons, aimed at safeguarding a precious resource: the truth. Correspondent Chris Livesay reports.

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[bobareeniobobareenio]

BEST LINE: “ you have the right to your own opinion, but you don’t have the right to your own facts.” So well put !

[jujubees]

We need these classes in America, now. We need to start educating children early. By the time they are adults, it's too late for many who have fallen for fake news.

[rosemariebredahl]

This also helps with navigating contracts, product advertising, lease agreements, loopholes in laws being voted on, Etc., not just for having voters be an informed electorate.

[joedigital]

As a journalist, author, professor, and grandfather, I wish we would teach this in the United States. Good work CBS

[christinapereira]

"you have the right to your own opinion, but you don't have the right to your own facts."

[Tristanks]

As a Finn, I can approve. Just last week we did lessons about misinformation and its faults and dangers, and how to differentiate real vs fake news.

[marydawkins]

American educational models and research infantilizes our kids from the very start. One look at European education and you'll see how advanced they are in what they believe kids are capable of. KINDERGARTNERS are beginning to learn critical thinking in Finland!! Our kindergartners are barely learning the alphabet and reading.

[vtwarsaw]

Finland is on another level of goodness
❤🇫🇮

[chrisjames]

My State Dept of Education wants to spend $6 million dollars on bibles, one for every classroom while our test scores are abysmal. We're in real trouble here in middle America.

[judysoderlund]

I am amazed by Finland’s excellent education about critical thinking and think our education system could learn much from studying their system and culture! ❤

[kurronen]

As an American teaching in Helsinki, Finland, people ask if I would ever teach in the States, oh my gosh NO WAY!

[WaynoGur]

This is such a critical skill. This needs to be part of the curriculum in the United States. Perhaps Magadonians would be able to tell the truth from a lie.

[graafisk]

Good work Finland! Denmark (where I've now lived more than half my life) is 2nd after Finland at the top of the "best-of" list, but I was born and educated in the USA; it pains me to see how many USA citizens today don't have a good foundation of critical thinking upon which to build their decisions and life-skills. My family didn't leave my education 100% up to the school system. I think there's currently a lack of cross-generational engagement in learning within our community and families. Rational wisdom is being lost to a focus on social media driving us toward superficial entertainment and a lack of good judgement about finances, politics, our future on the only planet we have... the list is long.

[carolscholp]

Can we import the Finnish system here. There children spend a great deal of time outside in healthy activities

[marygaia]

Ss, so impressed with this! What a fabulous idea. Teaches children critical thinking skills, the use and abuse of the internet. We need this in the US

[Mr.T]

You have the right to your own opinion, but you do not have to right to your own facts. Gold! Best statement of the year.

[abimaelhernandez]

I wish we taught this in America. It would have helped with some of the current insanity we see in politics today.

[andrea_fryer]

In addition to the valuable and highly sensible lessons children get at school, they also get free healthy meals, free medical and dental care throughout their entire childhood. I'm a Canadian, but am so glad I raised my boys in Finland.

[Rubygirl]

We can't even serve a decent lunch at our schools so our kids can learn much less teach them something useful.

[code-]

In the USA, we must implement this into school systems.

As for the 50% of uneducated adults; I am at a loss of how to reach them.

Maybe their own children can educate them.