Schools differ from country to country, and there are some pretty interesting school systems in the world. In The Netherlands, for example, kids start school on their 4th birthday, no matter when the school year starts. Kids in China, in turn, learn on the principle of memorization.
And then there’s the US. What most of us know about American schools probably comes from movies and TV. But what are schools in the US really like? Well, here we have a list of pics from many primary sources, the students themselves. They capture the true experience of the American school.
#1 Florida Teacher Here. This Is Our School’s “Library” Now
Florida passed a law that said no books can be displayed in a school, until they've been reviewed and approved by an appointed team. If a teacher shows a book that has not been approved, they could be charged with a felony.
#2 My School Blocked A Website Because It Was Labeled As Educational
#3 During The Summer, My School Installed Metal Gates Over The Bathrooms To Keep Us From Going Between Classes
Currently, American schools lag a bit behind other countries in the world in terms of their students’ academic achievements. When they tested 15-year-olds in their math and science literacy, American teenagersrankedonly 38th out of 71 countries. Among other 37 OECD countries in 2022, Americansranked38th in math and 12th in science.
Younger students, however, are doing surprisingly more well. In 2015, American fourth-grade studentsplaced11th out of 48 in math and 8th in science. Eighth-graders scored 8th both in math and science among 37 other countries.
#4 This Survey At My School
#5 My School Doesn’t Have Stall Doors
There are also huge mirrors directly facing them.
#6 My School Wants Us To Allow This On Our Personal Devices, Just To Use Google Classroom
Interestingly, Americans don’t think that the quality of education in the U.S. is above average. In fact, 32% of adultsbelievethat when it comes to K-12 STEM education, America ranks below average compared to other wealthy nations. But are statistics of academic achievement all that matter when we talk about schools?
The National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, also surveys children about how they feel at school. Data shows that younger students report feeling happy “all or most of the time” more than older students. 49% of fourth-graders say they’re happy at school, while only 27% of eighth-graders say the same.
#7 This Is The Inside Of My Child’s Homework Folder Provided By The School. At What Point Has Consumerism Gone Too Far?
#8 Creepy Surveillance Into The Boys’ Bathroom At My High School
There is a window in the boys' bathroom that has a perfect line of sight with the security office that doubles as a panopticon of the entire commons area. If this was the girls' bathroom, heads would roll and there would have been a riot outside years ago. I hate it here.
#9 They Start The Indoctrination Early At My Florida High School
American parentssaythey’re mostly satisfied with their children’s education but don’t think K-12 education in America overall is of good quality. They also think that teachers are doing a good job. 36% of parents think their children’s teachers are “excellent” and 37% believe their kids’ teacher is “good.”
#10 The School Lunch System Is Disgraceful
From my years in high school I compiled some pictures of the horrible things that got served that no one questioned. It really is ironic given how adamant they all are about eating healthy by including every food group.
#11 My Friend Got In Trouble For “PDA”
#12 What A Sad Country We Live In For My 12-Year-Old To Text Me This
Those who are not from America might look at this list and think how strange and different American schools are. But the truth is that each country has something different about its education system and schools that might surprise people.Finland, for example, which is often thought to have one of the best education systems in the world might seem strange too.
#13 Our School Spent 1.3 Million On New Turf For A Loosing Team, But I Get To Deal With This Every Time It Rains Because They Can’t Afford To Fix The Roof
#14 The Absolutely Terrible Design Of My School. This Is The Place Where Every Hallway Intersects
#15 Our High School Covers Expiration Dates With A Sharpie
The country began its education reform about 40 years ago and prioritized hiring educators in decision-making positions both at the local and national levels. Teachers in Finland must have a Masters degree in Education, and the system prioritizes the underprivileged. “Children from wealthy families with lots of education can be taught by stupid teachers,” veteran teacher Kari Louhivuorisaid.
#16 I Guess My Daughter’s School Administrator Is Trying To Reprimand Me?
I was late a lot through high school, but I'd never been sent home with anything like this. My mother would get a call from the school every now and then, that's about it. For reference, my daughter's in 1st grade.
#17 My School Blocked Google
#18 My School’s Bag Check Line
Singaporean schools are often at the top of international ranking tables as well. What American students might find strange in aSingaporean classroomis that teachers are usually the ones who talk the most during lessons and discussions by the students aren’t that widely encouraged. Pupils use digital devices in the learning process, as teachers incorporate technology into classrooms.
#19 My Children’s School Folders Are Starting To Look Like Internet Pop-Ups
This is in my wife's hometown, which is small, so she doesn't share my anger. She said it was to raise money for the fall festival. Told my buddy from back home about it and he was just as angry as I was, even calling it child labor.
#20 Bathroom Pass In An American School. I Mean, I Get It, Kids Take Advantage, But This Is Too Much
#21 This Is What They Gave Us For Lunch Today. I’m A 6’5″ 160 Lbs Track Athlete, With Practice And Weight Training After School. This Did Little To Nothing To My Hunger Level
The South Korean education system is often lauded as well. Students in Korea spend more time at school than American students. An average American student spends 180 days a year at school, while a Korean student – about 220. Together with Finland, students in South Korea also get the least amount ofhomeworkper week.
#22 Honestly, I’d Rather Just Ask For Cash
So we have to buy a $60 box of chocolate bars (which I noticed are now only 0.8 oz when they used to be 1.5 oz), sell the whole box, and only $22 of that goes towards an end of year trip? Just no. I’d rather donate cash and save myself and my kid the headache. Or even do a lemonade stand, or sell bracelets. Seems like the least efficient way to do a fundraiser.
#23 School Board Policy For Lunch In North Carolina
#24 My School Banned The Dinosaur Game
If you’ve ever been to Spain, you know that the siesta is sacred to people there. The same is true at some Spanish schools: students get a two-hour lunch break to go home and eat and possibly take a nap. The usual school hours are from 9 am to 5 pm, others from 8 am to 3 pm.
#25 My School Is Fining Students That Take Too Long In The Bathroom
#26 School Has A “Minimum Donation” For A Fundraiser
My friend's kid's school is having a fundraiser. I was like, yeah sure I'll donate 5 bucks. Nope. Well now they're getting no money because 15 is a little too much for me.
#27 Sign On The Nurse’s Door At My School
Here’s another fun fact for you: students in Australia and New Zealand sometimes go to schoolbarefoot. Kiwis and Australians going to the local supermarket barefoot isn’t so unusual generally, so why should schools be different? Inglewood Primary School in Perth, Australia, has officially adopted a no-shoe policy. “We believe that children need opportunities to explore indoor and outdoor environments without shoes,” they stated in a newsletter.
#28 My Blind Child Came Home From School Today With This Homework
#29 About Half Of This 50-Gallon Trash Can Is Full Of Perfectly Good Cartons Of Milk, Expiration Date Is In 2 Weeks. Schools Waste A Lot Of Food
#30 There Was A Typo In The First Sentence Of My School’s Guide To Careful Writing
I believe we have many Pandas from different countries here. So, don’t hesitate to share what distinguishes the schools in your homeland from the rest of the world. Is it the curriculum? Is it the classroom environment? And, if you’ve ever been on both sides, how did an American school compare to the ones in your country? Let us know in the comments!
#31 Toilet Paper Provided At My School
#32 This Map Is In My School’s Elementary Library. Because All Of Eastern Asia And The Pacific Islands Are Apparently China
#33 I Don’t Think That’s Even Legal
#34 When Your School Bans Wikipedia, Only To Copy Directly From Wikipedia In Their Own Lesson Resources
#35 High School Bathrooms Are Really Wild
#36 Bathroom “Stalls” At James Rumsey High School
#37 Just Got Handed This In The Middle Of Class. I’m In High School
#38 The Shower Rooms In My School Dorms Have Mushrooms Growing In Them
#39 Bathroom Passes. Each Circle Represents One Pass, We Get One Of These Papers Per Semester. To Get More, We Have To Arrange An Appointment With The Administration
#40 This Milk At My School
#41 When The School Gives A Big Box To Hide The Size Of The Pizza
#42 When You Get One Formula Wrong In Our Weekly Tests At My School, They Make You Write It Out 150 Times. I Have 4 More Of These To Do
#43 My Little Brother’s Middle School Schedule. He’s Having Such A Hard Time Remembering When Periods Start And End. Why Are The Times This Specific?
#44 This Sign On A High School Classroom Door
#45 “Gift” From The School My Girlfriend Works At For Teacher’s Appreciation Week
#46 I’m A Night Custodian At A High School. This Is What The First Day Of School Looks Like
#47 My School Could Afford $6,000,000 Worth Of Renovations, But They Can’t Afford Toilet Paper That I Can’t See Through
#48 My School’s Renovated Toilet
#49 You Can’t Convince Me That “Syrup” Isn’t Just Motor Oil
#50 High School Throwing Away Perfectly Good Books
