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Growing up in a European country and never witnessing what it's like to go to an American school, watching American high school comedies, to me, has always been a pretty surreal experience. I'm sure that most of you fellow non-Americans reading this article could relate to me on this.

There are so many things about American schools that have always seemed utterly fascinating to me. For instance, you get letter grades instead of number ones, schools have swimming pools inside them, there's a club for almost anything, you have to get a hall pass to go to the bathroom during class, and lunch meals are usually pretty bizarre. The list goes on. With that being said, Bored Panda invites you to look through this list of tweets from non-American Twitter users in which they share things that they find the strangest about American schools. Feel free to explain to us the things we don't understand or add your own in the comment section!

#1

American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

scultator Report

GC
Community Member
4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don’t ever know what A levels etc. are. One of these days I need to look it up.

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    #2

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    morosexuaI Report

    konnarw1
    Community Member
    4 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    mine starts at 8:00 till 3:00

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    #3

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    bieberexhale Report

    Caitlin Davenport
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes, but the cheerleaders were just normal students, not stuck up and they didn't wear their uniforms in class.

    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    At my high school on big game days the cheerleaders did wear their uniforms during the school day in class. Even in winter basketball season!

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    Wanna-be Vegetarian
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Most high schools do. They aren't anymore stuck up than anyone else, it depends person to person.

    Aragorn II Elessar
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes, and they’re always the super popular girls that are usually stuck up

    Gwenda Christenson
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes we have cheerleaders for different sports (different cheerleaders for football, basketball, and wrestling are the most common) -- no we are not all stuck up. It can often depend on the school and its general atmosphere.

    GC
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Cheerleaders wore their uniforms to school on game days and players wore nice clothes ( collared shirts or ties when I was in school. Cheerleaders were like everyone else.

    Abby
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was a cheerleader and most weren't stuck up just very competitive

    Michelle C
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If the school has sports teams, they usually have cheerleaders.

    WhatEvenIsLife
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Went to HS in Texas, can confirm, it's exactly as batsh*t crazy as you think it is.

    Perfumista Perfumista
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm from NY. We had them, but with 1 or 2 exceptions nice enough and did not rule the school. The jocks were a different story.

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    angie but who cares
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    yes to the cheerleaders being evreywhere but usally only the head cheerleader is f****d up

    Karly Codr
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    For the most part, yes there are cheerleaders, and there is about a 50/50 chance that they will be stuck up.

    Lumpy Space Princess
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    OK, this comes from movies, but... do cheerleaders also wear their uniforms all the time, like just regular clothing?

    Joy Stowe
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Usually only on the day of the game or match. No one just wears them all the time that I know of.

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    Jamziee
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Most of the cheerleaders that were at my middle school were

    MyWeird “WolvesGoTo” DailyLife
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes, sometimes they are stuck-up, but they are often nice, also yes, the uniforms s3xualize the students who wear them and sometimes their cheers are very vulgar moves.

    Gary Geracci
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They do and in my experience they WERE stuck-Up and priviledged.

    Chris Shelton
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes, but it’s not that simple, cheerleader are often beautiful/athletic/cheerful and others gravitate to them. Without parenting/mentoring from teacher/coaching a cheerleader who is also a child too, can become “stuck up” and full of themselves.

    Denise Zirkel
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In Texas this is a big thing and is the equivalent to football. Girls are involved from an early age, attending camps to perfect their skills. Sort of like beauty pageants. It's sick.

    Angela Jester
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes,but people ignore the athleticism required to perform the routines. Not any more than any other student.

    Cybele Spanjaard
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They seem to look and act if they are princesses

    Elizabeth Tunney
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah, a lot of cheerleaders.. are. Most popular kids are. I got bullied everyday for a year by the popular and cheerleader and drama squad

    Deziree Mccullough
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    hey im a cheerleader and its true most of the girls are toxic some of are ok

    DetongLhamo
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I dislike the whole cheerleading concept. Boys play sport, girls wear short skirts and worship the boys.

    backatya
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I will never tell. But why do you need to know

    Patti Renwick Parrish
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    OMG YES! they are VERY stuck up, snotty bitches.

    elfin
    Community Member
    Premium
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If they have sports teams they may have cheerleaders. As for stuck up, some are and some aren't--just like people in general.

    carol Vaughn
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes we do, and depends on the cheerleader

    Jane Alexander
    Community Member
    4 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not only did my high school have cheerleaders with uniforms but attendance at games after school hours was compulsory. California, USA

    Ivana
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was friends with a few cheerleaders at my schools. Some were nasty and some were nice.

    Hadesdaughter
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well yes we have them and yes a lot of the time they are pretty little skinny princesses but some are actually nice.

    Emily Smith
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes, any high school that has a strong sports presence will have cheerleaders. Cheerleaders are to bolster school spirit (both on and off the field) and serve as an extra curricular activity for those interested. It was primarily limited to young women but now are open to any gender provided they have the grades, money (uniforms, etc) and the athleticism to participate. As far as are they actually as stuck up as portrayed in the movies...yes. Yes they are. They often come from higher income families that can afford tutoring and the expense of supplies to participate. The air of accomplishment and entitlement tends to run high with this crowd.

    Seth Linn
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Schools here get funding based on sports so they are more important than academic achievements

    Beebs
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    1. Usually 2. Most of the time

    Spring Fisk
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    yes, and usually these cheerleaders are the most popular Girls

    Cal Capone
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes and no they have low self esteem and eating disorders. Only some are stuck up.

    Louloubelle
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I will say as a kid who had been bullied by the cheerleaders; 1 - yes. 2 - yes, with a few exceptions. And the ones that say they weren't stuck up, were probably cheerleaders. Sorry. Just my opinion.

    Mimi777
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was one in high school, ah some of them were in. they came across as fake friendly towards everyone.

    Maris madness
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes and it happens but it is not the norm

    David Dwyer
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    1)Not always 2)Not that I've heard of. In books, it is normally from a shy person's' perspective, so they see them as "Stuck-Up" even though they typically aren't.

    Lesbean Bookworm
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    For my school at least, yes, and OHMYGOSH YES

    Jude Gepp
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Once a cheerleader coughed at me because I'm in marching band D: They're stuck up

    Amy Pattie
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Freaked me out about this one. Australia had cheerleaders in the 60s so when I saw them on TV my brain went “oh cool vintage” until Lizzie Maguire became a thing.

    Jacqueline Arana
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes and I never actually met a stuck up cheerleader

    sylvantic
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    1. mine does 2. no, they're super nice.

    JessG
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It’s a sport, just like the other sports. Also, lots of athletes are stuck up, not just cheerleaders

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    Suzanne Haigh
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I can not understand why it is so popular for girls to be cheerleader's, they only shake their hands and jump up and down, no brain cells needed.

    Hollysmom
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not being a hater but, don't they teach English grammar at your school?

    Corey Wilson
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    YES THEY ARE STUCK UP THEY THINK CAUSE THEY'RE CHEER LEADERS THEY SO MUCH BETTER THAN ANY ONE ELSE MOST TIME THEY COME FROM FAMILIES WITH A LITTLE MORE MONEY THAN SOME SO THAT MAKES THEM BETTER THAN SOME BODY WHO DON'T HAVE MUCH

    Demetri
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Yes. Almost a requirement like females taking "home economics" and dudes having to take "shop". This formally introduces "pecking orders" and helps develop the viper-tongued, thick-skinned attitude to compete because only the "best-looking and most popular" females were chosen. Plus, along with "Homecoming Queen, Drama Queen, and Class President, one needed listed "extracurriculars" for college/university, when you later applied to sororities.

    ArtistinResidence
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Are you sure you didn’t go to school with the Brady Bunch? Everyone here takes home economics even the boys and the girls also take shop. We call it industrial technology and yes I am a teacher from the United States.

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    #4

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    chromaticaution Report

    Jamziee
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes, because if you're in the hall without one, then you MUST be commiting murder (Sarcasm lads)

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    #5

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    hilaryagro Report

    Charlotte A.
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In Sweden it starts in august and ends in june. Nothing odd about it, to me.

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    #6

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    ShadyFennec Report

    #8

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    Nonisbitch Report

    Caitlin Davenport
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They used to have E as a failing grade, but people thought it meant Excellent, so they changed it to an F.

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    #9

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    kirstyclyne Report

    GlassHalfWay
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yep, even a snowboard & skiing club in the Midwest.

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    #10

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    Iivingxproof Report

    ramen noodle
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    huge, loud, head-ache inducing cafeterias.

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    #12

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    argentdols Report

    Aunt Messy
    Community Member
    Premium
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Canadian here. They don't close schools in Canada unless it's been colder than -40C for three days in a row.

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    #13

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    wintersfalcvn Report

    Imtiredandiwannagotobed
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Because we put all our budget into our announcements and lockers

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    #14

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    insatiate0 Report

    GlassHalfWay
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Because a gallon would be too heavy on the lunch tray.

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    #15

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    lisaislovesick Report

    #16

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    http_taehyungs Report

    Brett
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wish I had school lunch that good

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    #18

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    CryinInATaxi Report

    Eva Bryson
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes, teachers want you in class to learn, not loitering in the bathroom.

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    #19

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    alienrat Report

    SimplySarcastic40
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    yep...at least in the suburbs because most of us start driving at 16

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    #20

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    _smell_ya_later Report

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    #21

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    sapphicnile Report

    The Zooble
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    To be very honest, I'm English and I usually do page count rather than word count

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    #22

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    LazarusRags Report

    konnarw1
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    yeah i wondered this and are the woman stale or something lol

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    #24

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    livculture Report

    #25

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    bollobas Report

    Caitlin Davenport
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So we aren't "distracted". Even rooms with windows usually had the blinds closed.

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    #26

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    unsaidalex Report

    Caitlin Davenport
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not really. We have nearby schools we compete against in sports, but any rivalry is very light-hearted.

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    #27

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    prostrider Report

    SimplySarcastic40
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    we had an apple machine...for $0.20 you got an apple.

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    #28

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    hemsbucky Report

    Brett
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The high school I’m going to does

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    #29

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    aidansarson7 Report

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    #31

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    00lisa0 Report

    konnarw1
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    yeah sorry but you should move to america.(JK)

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    #32

    American-Schools-Weird-Things-Non-Americans

    ThaumPenguin Report

    Caitlin Davenport
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Candy was usually a very tiny part, if it was there at all. But it was the most exciting part!

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