Mid-July is when parents start getting their children ready for school. You need to buy a backpack, school stationery, sports uniform, comfortable shoes... and many other necessary things. You have to admit, the shopping list grows every day. Don't panic! Stop and breathe. To distract you, we have prepared an interesting selection of unusual school rules from different parts of the world, especially for you. Some of them are quite strange and seem like fiction. But believe me, these rules exist and are in effect!
Traditions and Rules of Japanese Schools
Let's start with schools in Japan. Japanese children are sent to first grade at the age of 5-6. The academic year begins in April. It is believed to be the most favorable period to start a new stage in life. School in Japan is traditionally divided into three levels: elementary, middle, and high school. But there are differences. Japanese students are incredibly hardworking. In middle school, children get many new subjects and tons of homework. Japanese schoolchildren typically spend their weekends and holidays studying and preparing for exams. They get little rest and work diligently, like little bees, to live up to their parents' expectations.
The strangest rule in Japanese schools is the ban on dyeing hair. In about 57% of Tokyo's public schools, students are prohibited from dyeing their hair. Students are obliged to prove that their hair color is natural. And if there are any doubts, the teacher has the right to request childhood photos of the student from their parents. Why is that? It's all about culture. Japanese people pay attention to uniformity. Even slight deviations from norms immediately catch the eye, are condemned, and criticized.
Mandatory Daytime Sleep in Chinese Schools
A unique rule applies in Chinese schools. Here, students are allowed to take 30-minute naps in the middle of the day. Teachers are confident that this helps better assimilate information, improves memory, and concentration. Younger students can sleep directly at their desks and even bring a blanket and pillow with them. Older students are allowed to sleep sitting up.
A cool rule, but it also has a downside. Frequent sleep in a sitting position negatively affects spinal health and can cause back problems.
What's New in Vietnamese Schools?
In Vietnam, an interesting innovation has appeared in kindergartens and schools — yoga classes. Lessons are held in the lotus position. Children are told wise parables. On average, children do yoga for about an hour a week. If desired, yoga can be chosen as an extracurricular activity. Education experts are convinced that regular yoga practice reduces anxiety, relieves stress, helps improve concentration, memory, and attention. All of this positively affects learning.
Strange School Rules in the UK
The UK government prohibits schoolchildren aged 11 to 18 from using slang. Any abbreviations and even informal greetings like "Hi" and "Bye" are forbidden in schools. Officials believe that children should speak only literary English. This will help raise the level of language culture and expand students' vocabulary.
In some schools in England, children are beginning to be forbidden from having best friends. Psychologists assure that a child develops and grows better if they have many friends, not just one. Many parents support this initiative. In addition, children who do not have best friends feel more confident and do not complex about it.
Greetings from an American School!
New York schools have a list of forbidden words that cannot be used in standardized tests. The list was compiled and approved by the Department of Education. The stop list included words such as poverty, divorce, illness, and indigence. It is believed that these words evoke negative emotions in many children. Also, the phrase "birthday" cannot be written, as many classes have children from Jehovah's Witness families who do not celebrate this holiday.
Watershed School is the pride of American education. The main feature of this educational institution is its unique "Farm to Table" program, within which children go to a real farm and learn how everything works. Such educational expeditions are incredibly popular with children! Moreover, they are considered one of the most productive methods of modern education. For example, students learn architecture not from textbooks, but by going on excursions. Biology and geography lessons are held outdoors.
Useful Experience of the French
French schools can boast a twenty-point grading system. The creators of this scale believe that it allows for a better and more objective assessment of each student's knowledge. No freebies here!
Previously, it was observed that with a five-point system, teachers often inflated grades for their favorite students or deliberately lowered scores for students they disliked. With the new system, one can more accurately determine effort and level of knowledge!
At the end of the semester, parents receive their child's report card by mail with a complete list of subjects and grades rounded to two decimal places. There are also columns with scores from the previous semester to assess dynamics, and below, the average scores of all students in the class are indicated. This method of presenting information helps mothers and fathers monitor their children's successes and failures.
Confrontation in Ukrainian Schools
In Ukraine, for a long time, the most discussed topic among schoolchildren and their parents was the introduction of mandatory school uniforms. This issue regularly caused a flurry of emotions and fierce disputes. Two camps emerged. Some believed that uniforms were pure discrimination. Others insisted that uniforms equalize schoolchildren, single out no one, and instill discipline. The disputes even reached the President of Ukraine! In June, activists registered a petition, collected the required number of signatures, V. Zelensky considered the issue and abolished the norm. Today, school uniforms in Ukrainian schools are not mandatory. Pay attention to this and cross this item off your back-to-school shopping list!
