I honestly think it is more of a cyclical thing as much as I kind of hate it when people say that. I'm not saying that's the way it is in Finland, but over here it's always something. Maybe ten years ago it was writing, so we threw tons of money and resources into writing because our scores were low. Then it was science, so we did the same thing, next it will be something else (maybe reading). I think part of the problem over here is that they shoehorn kids into specific skill levels based on some test they take. For example, I once saw a kid trying to check out a book on some subject he was interested in. The teacher said, no, that is above your skill level you can't check that out. My thinking is, if the kid is interested in the subject, let them read it. If it is above their skill level they will figure it out because it actually interests them. Perhaps if we let them read what they want more and not what we force them to, it wouldn't be such a struggle.
I agree with this. At Smallsteps' age, it isn't such a problem, but maybe later on. She reads what she wants though, and we read to her a lot too. Every second night I read in English to her, and on the other my wife in Finnish. None of these new nonsense books either - the classics :)
And I think that this is why it will always fail, because the money is spent on the school side, not the parent side. It is up to the parents to support this, because the amount they need in order to learn and benefit, can't be done in school alone anyway.
That is good that you do that with your daughter. Nah, parents have more important things to do these days. They have vibrant social lives that can't be interrupted by things like learning.
Some day, when we are all crypto rich, we will do a proper meetup :)
Sounds like a plan!