10 Weird School Rules From Around The World That You Won’t Believe Are Actually Real
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When you hear the word “school”, millions of memories come rushing to your head. Some good and some not-so-good, but all memorable. Whether it was a game of hide-and-seek with your friends or punishment from your teacher for not finishing your homework, the memories you made in school are one-of-a-kind. You might have studied in a “fancy” school or a “regular” one, but when it comes to rules that your school had, you have to admit that some of them were outright ridiculous. Different schools have different perspectives as to what kind of discipline and ideals their students should adhere to. And since most schools have their own rule setting teams, consisting mostly of the teachers or other higher ups, students have no other choice but to just obey them without asking too many questions.
Maybe you were the ideal student who followed them all, or you believed that rules were meant to be broken. Let’s find out! Today, we’ve curated a list of ten weird school rules from around the world that will take you on a trip down memory lane:
1. No Best Friends Allowed
If there is one thing we cherish even in the strictest of schools is the friends we make. Imagine having to go through your entire school life without friends! Sounds boring and useless, right? Friends are an integral part of your school life, and you make the best of friends there. But a UK-based school banned students from having best friends to protect kids’ feelings. We got to say that they only made it worse!
2. Students Cannot Raise Their Hands During Class
According to a school in the UK, students were banned from raising their hands during classes to ask questions. They incorporated this rule because the students who raised their hands were the only ones who did it, preventing the others from getting a chance. But by logic, now no one gets to ask questions!
3. Teachers Cannot Use Red Ink To Grade Paper
Remember how our notebooks were filled with red marks? Teachers often left comments, grades, suggestions, and even appreciation (if you were one of the good kids) all over your notebook or exam papers. But a school in Cornwell banned their teachers from using red ink to grade students’ papers. They were instructed to use green ink pens instead because apparently, red ink denotes a “negative color”. Come to think of it, it does sound to be reinforcing some much needed positivity.
4. No-Contact Rule
What’s the first thing you do when you reach your school and see your friends? You either run up to them to hug them or if you’re a cool cat, you probably have a special handshake or method of greeting your friends, which others wish they could be a part of. However, not all schools allowed such greetings. One school in London banned its students from any form of physical contact, including hugs, handshakes, or even high-fives, to prevent bullying. This sounds so archaic and opposite of being progressive. We really don’t see how this will benefit the personality development of the students in the long term.
5. No Ketchup And Fries
A school in France banned the cafeteria from serving tomato ketchup because of its high sugar content. The students were also not allowed to eat fries more than once a week. It hurts to even imagine a childhood without fries and ketchup! Plus, schools in France do not allow students to bring their own food from home.
6. Students Are Allowed To Use The Washroom Only A Limited Number Of Times
Yup, you read that right! A school in Chicago limits the number of times a student can go to the washroom. Nope, we are not kidding! The school allows its students to use the restroom only thrice per semester to avoid students missing classes. If they miss class, they have to make up for it by attending extra classes post regular school timings. We have to say that this rule is probably the most absurd one of them all!
7. Cleaning Their Own Classrooms And Washrooms
It might sound strange, but this one probably teaches you to be responsible about your surroundings. According to the rules of a school in Japan, students have to clean their own classrooms, washrooms and even serve lunch. They are given a schedule to follow and have to abide by them. It encourages kids to be mindful of their surroundings and practice hygiene.
8. No Running During Recess
Almost every student loves recess! It’s that time when you are free to run around and play with your friends. Correct? Well, not in all schools. When your school imposes a rule that you’re not allowed to run during recess, that time becomes quite insignificant. Sadly, it is a rule in some schools.
9. No Winning
Schools encourage healthy competition. They teach you to be a gracious winner and a sportive loser. But what if you studied in a school where winning was banned? Yup, it exists! A school in the UK banned winning so that no one’s feelings get hurt. Instead, they give both participants prizes to avoid conflict.
10. Acronyms Banned In Yearbooks
Yearbooks are spaces where students get to be creative and expressive with their language and emotions. It’s the one place where you don’t have to worry about using impeccable grammar. Right? Well, not according to a school in Milton. The students had to pledge that they would not use words like Omg, Lol, Idc, etc., in their yearbooks. *facepalm*
If you were also taken aback because these rules seem ridiculous, join the club. Compared to these schools, which had such weird rules, your school seems to be super cool now, doesn’t it? We hope we took you on a nostalgic joyride with this article. We’d love to hear your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below what weird rules your school had that were uncommon!
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