32 Seemingly Normal Things About American Schools That Confuse The Hell Out Of Non-Americans

they're called extracurriculars and play a big part in university application process

Our school actually has a fishing club

Because we like our kids to be well rounded and have opportunities to do things. How else do you find if you like computer graphics, drama, cheerleading, etc.? We don't always calls them clubs though.

Who the heck is this person that they don’t understand clubs?! If you don’t have extracurricular interests, don’t join. Weird question, and it’s not only in the US

We had clubs like that in New Zealand.

Dude I’d love a school with a rock climbing or cosplay club.

Why not?? This almost sounds like an excuse to complain about Americans?

Academic clubs are preferred for college transcripts, other clubs are to keep kids busy and for kids to find other kids with hobbies in common.

we have a fishing club

TSA Club (Technology Student Association) was the best at my school

Mostly in Universities.

I'm pretty sure there is a fishing club somewhere

Same in New Zealand.

we have a fishing sport here

Then bye Kirsty. Seriously though, perhaps if she understood the amount of clubs for different interests such as games, hobbies, subjects, and even social issues she would have a different point of view. Like even adults are part of book clubs.

We had all sorts of teams and clubs. FFA, (Future Farmers of America) was a big one in the Midwest.

Some schools have a paintball club

My school has a club literally called “Big backs” [they let the students make their own clubs— but still lmao]

Where I live, schools don't really organize this sort of stuff. There are clubs or afterschool activities, but those tend to be organized by "Children and youth centers" or through the local adult sports teams. Sometimes, private schools organize it for their students, but private schools are f*cking weird and don't really teach their students anything. And nobody really cares about it.

They are called extra curriculars and they are a way of soaking the parents ( who can afford it) for more money instead of the it coming out of the school budget. If your parent cannot afford to pay the extra money for these "extra curriculars" which are important for university application processes ( often more important than actual academic marks) your child could be screwed. This also happens in Canada. When I was a volunteer rugby coach for a high school girls , we were supposed to have a squad of 35 players (school board rules), my sister and I coached together and had a squad of 75. All the other volunteer coaches at the other high schools did the same, we all agreed to turn no one down, we cut no one, and every girl on the very large squad played at least a quarter in every game until we got to the playoffs. It was quite the juggling act. Many of the girls who came to rugby came because they heard "no one gets cut from rugby"! :) It was how we grew the sport.

Schools in most countries have clubs for after-school activities. As for fishing back in the 1980s, in England, you could even take an examination in Angling (fishing)

My father went to HS in southern California, where surfing was literally part of the PE curriculum, and his HS had a surfing club--probably still do.

i would like a fishing club

Those clubs were the best part of high school for me. Especially drama club and the school plays.

Yes, Americans like to have their kids continually busy.

I was in the Drama club. You don't have things like that? How sad.

Show how little this person has engaged with her school, I was in a number of clubs in my school in Kent UK

Most were started by students when I was in school. You just had to get a teacher to advise/sign off. It was a way for people with like interests to meet using campus rooms.

Hey, in Japanese schools, you are required to join an after-school club or team.

In our town it's the surfing club. Love it.

Oh yea we have a GOLF club lmao

Some friends started a fishing club when they were seniors. Not sure if they ever fished.

My daughter went to a high school with a fishing club. That didn't bother me. They discouraged women from joining. That bothered me.

I went to school in England and did loads of sports clubs- it was great! Exercise, friendship, team work, we got to travel (even went on a sports tour to Barbados!!) around the U.K. for competitions and it looked great on university applications. I'm a medically retired teacher and all schools I've worked in have had loads of sports and other extra curricular clubs to join at lunch and after school. I assumed this was basic in most countries?!

Extracurriculars to list later to college. Activities (and photo memories) to fill your time if you weren't good at sports. All of these would become fond memories in the Class Yearbook

my school is poor af so we don't have those :)

In our school we have DnD club and anime club.

golf club. I wish I was kidding.

*sigh* Ahhh, one day I will join that LGBTQIAP+ infinity group...

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It's an attempt to get kids interested in activities so they have less time to get high and pregnant.