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Schools are supposed to be hubs of knowledge and enlightenment, yet, nowadays, they often end up being the butt of the joke. Students and teachers call out schools for their ridiculous standardized tests, poor facilities, and academic requirements that are lacking.

We've decided to shine a light on all the absurd things that happen in U.S. schools. So, here we have for you a list of bad lunches, questionably graded tests, and the horrifying state of school bathrooms – all things that show how messed up the US education system really is.

#1

Uninspiring Teacher Comment

Student's journal entry with hopes crushed, reflecting a distressing school experience.

My 11 year old daughters teacher wrote this comment on her homework. I'm absolutely flabbergasted and angry. This after my daughter just competed in gymnastics nationals a month ago.

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Vlad Sher
Community Member
1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am more confused about the necessity of this assignment for an 11y.o. What purpose does grading someone's hopes and dreams is? This seems like a pointless display of authority by the teacher from the start.

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    #2

    Son’s Math Test

    Son’s Math Test

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    Michal Pifko
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've seen people argue that there is a meaningful difference between 3x4 and 4x3 in terms of real life application (3 boxes of 4 items vs. 4 boxes of 3 items) but that is not at all obvious from the wording of the task and marking the answer as incorrect is beyond pedantic. What's worse, this is the kind of thing that teaches children rigid, inflexible thinking. It's also the kind of thing that makes children hate school and education as a whole. Shame on the teacher.

    Huddo's sister
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    These days (or when I was studying teaching) teachers are not only supposed to support different ways students get to answers in maths but also teach different methods. In Australia anyway.

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    C .Hunger
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I might get some heat for this, but technically the teacher is correct. The problem 3 X 4 is technically "3 groups of 4" not "4 groups of 3". It was not looking for the answer to what 3 X4 equals or what 4 x3 equals, but rather interpreting WHAT 3 x 4 means. You can hate the question if you want.

    Scott Rackley
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No, you're not correct. See, multiplication has a commutative property, a times b is the same as b times a. It serves no purpose whatsoever to teach a child there is a difference. Talk about making algebra hard for them later, damn. Take your common core and be off with you.

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    Kabuki Kitsune
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'd be willing to bet that they were teaching the multiplication tables using a method that had the children learning each number in order. So, you learn the 2's, then 3's, then 4's, and so on. So in this, while the child's answer is technically correct, if they're concentrating on the 4's; the answer is wrong.

    Scotira
    Community Member
    1 week ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My guess as well. The teacher wanted three times the number four instead the child wrote four times the number three. 🤷‍♀️edit. Ah thx for the downvote 🙄 I know that it's obvious I just wanted to write it in words other than numbers to make the point even clearer.

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    Foxxy says Hello
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Apparently the method is incorrect, well that's what I read on another post. I personally don't understand the method and I really dont care if the answer is the same.

    mandy the capibara
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I remember a similar problem from my own school days. Appearantly it had to do with teaching the grammar of math. So 3x4 is "3 times a thing with the value of four." So in a shop, if a customer asked for 3 times 4 apples, she'd want three bags with four apples in each, not four bags with 3 apples in each. Seems a bit trivial but as I remember, that difference is important to teach

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    Nicole Weymann
    Community Member
    1 week ago

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    Nope. Task above is 4 x -- = 12 (so looking for "3" as the answer). I've never had or heard of a Maths teacher marking like OP's teacher did.

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    Yehuda Zimmerman
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not really. Although 3x4 = 4x3, they are different equations and meant different things.

    Thanos'Fingers
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They are actually equal equations and mean the same thing - 12. That's why you used the EQUAL sign for your EQUAtion. Because the two are equal, ie the same, ie not different.

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    John Harrison
    Community Member
    13 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Came here to explain why the teacher is correct, but Lisa Pisa beat me to it. Please go read, understand, and like her comment.

    Lisa Pisa
    Community Member
    5 days ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's seems everyone in this comments section is dumber than they think the teacher is! The teacher is correct, even if it DOES appear to be a pointless question (yes, multiplication is commutative -- just like addition -- and yes, the end result is the same... but they are asking to express it exactly as written to check that the child understands that here the equation is expressed as 3 lots of 4, not 4 lots of 3. This could actually matter, say if you are giving 3 children 4 chocolates each, as opposed to 4 children 3 chocolates each. Total number is the same, but not the number in each 'group').

    Jenn Olges
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm sorry, that equation says 3x4. This means you add 3 4 times. The kid was totally right. Teacher needs to get a grip.

    C.PHIL
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is that the difference between an an the? An: both are basically correct. The: only 4+4+4 is correct?

    Nicole Weymann
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    3 x 4 can be phrased as "the number three, four times please" as well as "three times the number four please". The whole discussion about wording is absurd as long as all you have is numbers and not, you know, actual words. And none of my Maths teachers was ever nitpicky enough to mark this as a mistake, even IF the question had been "Linda wants to buy three sets of chocolate bars. Each set contains four bars. How many bars does she buy?" We were explicitly and repeatedly told that 3 x 4 is the same as 4 x 3

    Lisa Pisa
    Community Member
    5 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    3 lots of 4, not 4 lots of 3. Teacher is correct, even though end result is the same.

    Louise Higgins
    Community Member
    6 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The question asked for 3x4 not 4x3. The teacher is correct on this one.

    tori Ohno
    Community Member
    1 week ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I had a teacher mark my math wrong one. X + X =10. I put 3 + 7=10. The principal made her change it when my parents got involved. She wanted 5+5

    Aerial (Any pronouns/Canadian/Jewish)
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When you're working with variables, that makes sense. Since both were X, it means the same thing twice. One variable can't mean two different things in the same equation.

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    Lo Kindred
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why can't they just come up with the right answer no matter how they work it. This is the reason why I couldn't help my kiddo with his homework. I was taught a totally different way than he was. I didn't understand it.

    Stuart
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Teacher is wrong. The 3 is the number being multiplied, not the 4. Either way, this is ridiculous.

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    #3

    A University Anatomy Course Censoring Body Parts

    BYU-Idaho human anatomy slides with censored body diagrams, illustrating a unique school experience.

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    Lisa DC
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They do know that these students actually have these body parts are already intimately familiar with them?

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    The things in this list might be hard for foreigners to comprehend, but the call is coming from inside the house, too. Many Americans know how crazy and dystopian some of their schools are. According to a 2023 survey by Pew, 51% of adults in the U.S. think that the education system is going in the wrong direction.

    When asked about specifics, most respondents say that schools need to spend more time teaching students core academic subjects like math, reading, and social sciences. 52% of the respondents also agree that schools don't receive adequate funding and resources.

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    #4

    What A Sad Country We Live In For My 12 Year Old To Text Me This:

    Text messages express fear over a potential school shooting threat, illustrating horrifying school experiences.

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    #5

    A Teacher In Texas Is Giving As To Students That Buy His Book And Leave A 5 Star Review On Amazon

    Classroom projector displaying a questionable bonus offer as part of a horrifying school experience.

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    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Okay, that's flat out corruption. The teacher needs exposing in public, and then sacking.

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    #6

    A Free Bag I Got From My School

    Reusable bag with “Say No to Plastic” design, Traill Family Fun Fair 2020, highlighting school experiences.

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    April Pickett
    Community Member
    1 week ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What's not to love about the American school system? It amazes me that we still have college graduates who can read, write, theorize, and win Pulitzer prizes.

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    The U.S. actually spends quite a lot of money on education, more than any other OECD country, in fact. In 2021, the U.S. spent around 5.6% of its GDP on education. For comparison, in Germany, Japan, and France, the percentages were 4.5%, 3.5%, and 5.2%, respectively. 

    Yet that doesn't translate into better results. U.S. students still lag behind countries like Canada, China, Estonia, Germany, Finland, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. Washington think tank the National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE) reports that a student in Singapore is 3.5 years ahead of an American student in math, 1.5 years ahead in reading, and 2.5 years ahead in science.

    #7

    My Chem Teacher Sucks

    Exam question error, incorrect answer marked, illustrating horrifying US school experiences.

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    Bernd Herbert
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's so stupid! The teacher apparently doesn't want to teach the kids chemistry but to follow blindly instructions without thinking. That is in fact the opposite of teaching.

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    #8

    My School Wants Us To Allow This On Our Personal Devices, Just To Use Google Classroom

    Warning screen on iPhone detailing remote management, linked to horrifying school experiences.

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    #9

    My School That Started An Eco-Friendly Project By Giving Out Apples To Students

    A hand holding a green apple wrapped in plastic, representing a common school experience item.

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    Some experts suggest that U.S. citizens don't see where the money goes. As the senior scholar at the American Enterprise Institute Mark Schneider writes, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) often fails to publicize their expenditure data. In 2023, the NCES published a report but didn't give the public the raw data. 

    #10

    During The Summer, My School Installed Metal Gates Over The Bathrooms To Keep Us From Going In Between Class

    Closed school restroom with metal gate, next to a water fountain.

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    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well now. If that's the barrier which stops the *boys* going for a pee in the proper hygenic manner, it seems to me that there's a straightforward solution... I mean, if you gotta go, you gotta go, and those horizontal bars won't stop a stream of fluid passing by.

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    #11

    I Got A Point Off For Stapling My Homework Wrong

    Stapled graded paper with math problems, marked with a red pen, highlighting a school experience.

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    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Just about excusable if there were explicit instructions not to use staples but instead use a tag (what they called "treasury tags" in my youth). Otherwise, the teacher needs reprimanding.

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    #12

    My High School Nurse Sent Me Back To Class Even Though I Had Obvious Symptoms. I Got Home And Was Immediately Tested Positive For Covid. Shoutout To The Best Nurse Ever!

    Close-up of a hand holding a pregnancy test, highlighting horrifying US school experiences.

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    And why do we need to know where the NCEE spends its money? According to Schneider, it would help to "unpack national trends and extract lessons that can help us understand how to reverse the stagnation" in the current education system. Also, "To make the large and ever-growing national investment in education more effective and efficient."

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    #13

    My Teacher Only Lets Us Go To The Bathroom 3 Times A Month

    Bathroom ticket policy limits usages, illustrating horrifying US school experiences regarding restroom access.

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    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Can anyone explain this sort of nonsense to me? What sort of society thinks it makes sense to limit when children are allowed to attend to natural bodily functions?

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    #14

    My School Thinks This Fills Up Hungry High Schoolers

    Unappetizing school lunch with macaroni, chocolate milk, and fries, illustrating horrifying school experiences.

    So lunches are free for schools in my city and surrounding cities. Ever since lunches have been made free, the quantity (and quality) has decreased significantly. This is what we would get for our meal. It took me THREE bites to finish that chicken mac and cheese. Any snacks you want cost more money and if you want an extra entree, that’ll cost you about $3 or $4.

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    #15

    My Kid's Teacher Said "Gnome" Begins With N

    Children's worksheet with letter recognition, highlighting school experiences.

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    Earonn -
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    well, the pedantic teachers have taught the kids well - peanuts aren't 'nuts'.

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    The NCEE president Mark Tucker explains that the problem persists because the U.S. education system was built on a "factory model." Originally, most teachers in the U.S. were women without many prospects to work in other fields. In the rest of the world, however, teachers were professionals, trained and highly qualified to work in classrooms.

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    #16

    My School Asked Us To Research And Watch A Tedtalk Despite Blocking Their Website And Their Videos On Youtube

    Access denied message on school network for a streaming site, illustrating US school restrictions.

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    Jrog
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is when your essay immediately becomes a future TED talk about how censorship and limitations on circulation of information hamper academical research.

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    #18

    Online School Started And I Can’t Learn Now

    Error message with dog indicating online access issue for school experiences.

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    Rhett Butler
    Community Member
    6 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I can understand because this was probably happened right when everything got shut down and the demand suddenly skyrocketed

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    Tucker says that the solution to the poor U.S. education system is simple. "We have to have more highly educated teachers and we need to pay them more." But that's easier said than done. He says that the U.S. still might have a slight superiority complex. "We were so dominant for so long that it's hard for us to accept that there are now so many countries pulling ahead of us," he explained to The Guardian.

    #19

    So My Sister's School Had 4000$ That They Could Basically Spend On What Ever. They Choose This Pice Of "Educational Art"

    Unusual school art structure showing layers of wood and metal outdoors, related to horrifying US school experiences.

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    #20

    Just Paid $800 For My School "Books"! It's Loose Leaf Paper!

    Holding Algonquin College instrumentation booklets, representing school experiences.

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    Kabuki Kitsune
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You see this quite a bit with fields of study that are either new, or prone to regular changes. In both cases, they don't want you reselling the books, because in both cases, there's no guarantee that each year's textbook is going to be the same. Saw that happen with my environmental engineering textbook when I was going for my degree. Hell, halfway through the semester, our professor had to have us completely ignore two whole chapters of the text book because the standards that were presented there, had changed, and those processes could no longer be used.

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    #21

    School Has Become Pay To Win

    Whiteboard message offering homework pass for buying school dance tickets, hinting at horrifying school experiences.

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    April Pickett
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You've got to start them early on the 'buy this and get this free'. They don't want anyone figuring out what a c**p show that is.

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    Students in the U.S. also have a great deal to say about the changes they want to see in their schools. In 2019, The New York Times asked high schoolers how they would improve the education system. Students agreed that teachers need higher wages and more support, they would like to learn real-life skills and see standardized tests and grades de-emphasized, and feel less pressure to do well in school.

    #22

    What My School Gave Its Teachers For Teacher Appreciation Week

    What My School Gave Its Teachers For Teacher Appreciation Week

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    Dar Mal
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    my school does this garbage , too. Admin and staff received 6% raise/teachers nothing (for last 3 years); at Christmas teachers receive a card for a $50 for ham (sorry if you're Jewish or Vegan...just give your card to someone else we would value!)

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    #23

    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

    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

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    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In grade school one teacher would make us do this with words we weren't supposed to say. Which once lead to me writing ORGY hundreds of times. I'm not sure she really thought that through enough. :)

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    American students also want teachers to make lessons more engaging. "A textbook doesn’t answer all my questions, but a qualified teacher [who] takes their time does," student Michael Huang wrote to The New York Times. "Having a teacher [who] just brushes off questions doesn't help me," he added.

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    #25

    There Aren't Enough Seats In The Lecture Rooms, So I Don't Have A Table Or Seat, Even Though I Pay A Lot Of Money To Study

    Student lying on the floor in a classroom, surrounded by desks and chairs, depicting a distressing school experience.

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    detective miller's hat
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My high school's art class was like this after they cut the art department's budget. There used to be multiple art classes (drawing, crafts, photography, painting), but my senior year they just offered one ("Art"). No art supplies beyond some cheap paper and a box of broken coloured pencils, and not enough desks or chairs, so a good chunk of the students sat on the counters, tables, on desks, and on the windowsills. Our teacher (Goldie, she was a saint) had a nervous breakdown like 2 months into the school year and they never hired a replacement art teacher, just used subs for the rest of the year. The school did still have 10 working 35mm cameras--Goldie doled them out to the few of us who were actually interested in art and told us to never return them, she would just tell the school they were lost or stolen. I still have that camera.

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    #26

    My School’s Decision To Put Office Tiles In A Gym

    Damaged school gym ceiling with missing tiles, highlighting horrifying US school experiences.

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    Kabuki Kitsune
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Given the color of the tiles around the registers, I would be willing to bet that the decision happened around the time the school was constructed. Likely in the 1980's, when those tiles were seen as a viable and cheap ceiling choice, when compared with other options. At the time, they likely never considered hoodlums would be more interested in getting basketballs stuck in the ceiling.

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    #27

    Teacher Doesn’t Hide His Use Of AI

    Hand holding a paper with feedback questions and a note on ChatGPT inaccuracies, related to school experiences.

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    LeftEyedAsmodeus
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I mean - as long as he checked if everything is correct, it should be okay for a teacher to use chatgpt for such things.

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    These high schoolers also understand that they need support from their parents and teachers to thrive. One respondent, Melanie, wrote that when a student has people who are truly rooting for them, they might be destined for success. "With enough support and resources, any student could be motivated to step out of their comfort zone, and be pushed to further their thinking and education and do great things in the world beyond the classroom."

    #28

    They Took Our School Bathroom Doors Away

    School bathroom with open stall doors, reflecting typical US school experiences.

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    Broadredpanda
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow! Bigger gaps than normal! Ffs, the American system is off their nuts! Can't even hide in here if there's an active shooter! F******g disgraceful!

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    #29

    The Line At My School To Check Bags (Keep In Mind That Almost All Of Theses People Are Wearing Clear Backpack)

    Students in a long line outside a US school building, reflecting chaotic school experiences.

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    Kabuki Kitsune
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Context is important. Bag checks don't just look at a clear bag. Students must also pass through a metal detector, and around a d**g detection dog. That's because while the backpack may be clear, their clothing is not.

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    How do these pics from American schools compare to your school experiences, Pandas? Share your thoughts with us in the comments. And, if you want to see more similar content, be sure to check out our previous articles here and right here!

    #31

    My School Is Repeatedly Playing Baby Shark In Between Classes Until Enough People Sign Up For A Charity Walk

    Sign urging students to stop "Baby Shark" music with 30 sign-ups. Vintage sea theme with shark illustration. Horrifying school moments.

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    April Pickett
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well, I guess the torture school was full so they sent their wanna-be recruits to the school administration class.

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    #32

    This-Is-Why-Kids-Drop-Out-Of-School

    Quiz answer marked wrong due to missing hyphen, illustrating horrifying US school experiences.

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    catastrophegirl
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ok, look, parents of students under 18, college students, and teachers: if you see this on digital/online schoolwork from a textbook publisher (so not a question written by the teacher themselves), report it to the textbook publisher. this is an obvious error and can be addressed. it's not uncommon to have something like this to turn up and it's the publishers responsibility to fix it. now, if the teacher wrote the question, that's on them. (source: industry insider knowledge)

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    #33

    My (Belated) Teacher Appreciation Week “Gift” From My Underfunded School- A Handful Of Items That I Should Get As Part Of My Job But Usually Pay For Out Of Pocket

    School supplies including pencils, erasers, markers, glue, and highlighters arranged on a desk for a school setting.

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    Geoffrey Mason
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My wife spends thousands of dollars and countless uncompensated hours equipping her classroom. Not to mention the time she drags me in for.

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    #35

    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?

    School bell schedule card detailing periods and times, highlighting the structure of a school day's experiences.

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    C B Jones
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    To give the kids a little time between classes - to go to the bathroom, or whatever, for instance? But damn, lunch at 10 though.

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    #36

    When Your School Bans Wikipedia... Only To Copy Directly From Wikipedia In Their Own Lesson Resources

    Text from Wikipedia about the Royal Proclamation of 1763, relevant to horrifying US school experiences.

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    #37

    Some One Marked Out The Profanities In The Book I Was Given To Read In Class

    Person reading a page from John Steinbeck's book, depicting a school experience with controversial language.

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    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ah yes, America, land of the free! Where mind control and censorship rule supreme!

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    #39

    My School Is Making Us Cut A Hole In Our Mask To Play Our Instruments

    Damaged face mask in a classroom, illustrating horrifying US school experiences.

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    #41

    This Textbook That I Spent Like 100$ On

    Open book with text on phonemic awareness in US schools, featuring a classroom video example.

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    Deborah
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Textbooks, especially at the graduate level, were extremely important when I went to grad school in the mid-80s. I can't imagine what the prices are like now.

    #42

    Our High School Covers The Expiration Date With Sharpie

    A child's treat of Doritos Nacho Cheese chips during a typical school day, symbolizing common school experiences in the US.

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    Kabuki Kitsune
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's not an expiration date. It's an arbitrary "sell by" date which tells the store when they should rotate their stock, and when to discard unused stock. (Typically by destroying it.) It's a very common misconception that it's an "expiration" date.

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    #43

    Someone Stole The Toilet Stalls At Our School

    School restroom with an unusual layout featuring two toilets and urinals in one space, reflecting horrifying experiences.

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    Geoffrey Scott
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In ours (former custodian) male students messed around with the urinal divider so bad we could no longer anchor it. No privacy for them now. Not sure WHY the stall dividers are missing...graffiti?

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    #44

    Son’s Kindergarten School Work. What 3-4 Letter Word Is This??

    Children's worksheet with tracing and word exercises, highlighting school challenges.

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    #45

    My Daughters (4 Yo) Preschool Homework. “Match The Pictures” With No Other Context

    Children's educational worksheet featuring mismatched animal drawings.

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    H. Nolden
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's actually easy. Way of locomotion. Jumping, swimming, flying, crawling, on four legs

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    #46

    Apparently My College Now Require Us To Scan A Qr Code And Track Our Geographical Location To Take Our Attendance To Prevent Students From Skipping Classes

    Map with GPS markers on a touchscreen, highlighting horrifying school experiences in a US setting, displayed on a monitor.

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    Kabuki Kitsune
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Huntington Beach California. The school implemented this after a number of students were caught with vapes in the bathrooms, as well as a number of other illegal activities. (possession of a vape by anyone under 21 is illegal, fyi) As a result, the school implemented this on a trial period for the 2024-2025 school year to test if this would allow the school to better track its students.

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    #47

    My School Locked All The Doors To The Toilets And Complain When We Don't Go During Breaktime And Lunchtime

    School bathroom with "Do Not Use" sign on door, representing horrifying experiences.

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    Geoffrey Scott
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    After several instances of throwing wet paper towels against the walls and otherwise trashing the space, the principal would lock the space from use and direct students to the space across from the office. Worked for a couple months, but memories are short.

    #48

    Our School District Says It Would Cost $1,500 To Put In Two Dividers. Teachers And Students Use This Restroom

    Three urinals in a school bathroom setting, reflecting common student experiences.

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    Kabuki Kitsune
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Your school district is lying if they're saying it'd cost 1500 to put in the urinal screens. Looking at the panel on the left, based on the full height aluminum bracket, that points to either a phenolic, or polymer panel. Both are rather expensive, as bathroom partitions go. Poly urinal screens start at 1500 per screen, and 3000 per panel. Doors are around 750 each, and pilasters (the supports) are 250, give or take. (Depends on pilaster width.) That's not counting the full height brackets and labor to install. Phenolic screens are roughly double what poly is, cost wise, but use the same basic hardware to keep it attached to the walls. Labor is typically in the 60 to 75 dollar per hour range. Your average school bathroom will cost 10k per bathroom for males, and 15k per bathroom for females to do a fresh install of everything. (I was a co-owner of a partition installation company before going to college to study engineering.)

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    #49

    The Parking Rates At My College Basically Force You To Pay $32 For Parking Since Most Classes Take Over Four Hours

    "Parking rates chart showing hourly fees, related to horrifying US school experiences."

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    Kate Jones
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Parking at universities is the biggest scam of all time. You have way more students than can possibly fit in your school and you also don't have enough parking spaces for them. I went to a school that was set way into the woods basically. The driveway was like a mile long by itself and then the parking lots were in a circle around the property. The buildings were then deep set another 1/2 mile from there. Some buildings were way more popular than others. So you either had to park in a lot that was nowhere near the building you needed to go to, get there 2 hours early and enjoy your hike with a bookbag full of heavy books. Or you parked outside of the lines. The only tickets I've ever gotten were in college. And the campus police were basically only there to write tickets for parking as a revenue stream for the school. They almost never came out for any real crimes. My car got broken into and they didn't call the police but I did get a ticket for parking outside of the lines.

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    #50

    This Was My Teacher Appreciation Gift From My Administration A Few Years Ago. A Hole-Punched Kool-Aid Packet, A Shoe String, And A Cheap Pun

    Classroom setting with a Kool-Aid pack attached to a blue ribbon for Teacher Appreciation.

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    #51

    My School During Passing Period. Right Picture Went Sorta Viral A Couple A Years Ago And Left One Was Taken Today. Nothing Has Changed

    Crowded school hallway packed with students during a chaotic moment, depicting a horrifying US school experience.

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    #52

    My Blind Child Came Home From School Today With This Homework

    Classroom scavenger hunt worksheet depicting items like leaves, insects, and animal tracks in a school activity.

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    #56

    My School Is Fining Students That Take Too Long In The Bathroom

    Notice on school bathroom wall about usage rules, highlighting fines and surveillance.

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    #58

    When You Need A 90% Or Above To Pass The Class But Your Teacher Is A Jerk

    Grade report showing an almost perfect score, highlighting horrifying US school experiences.

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    #60

    Back Of School ID Card In Oklahoma (Xpost)

    Hand holding a McDonald's free dessert card, related to horrifying school experiences.

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    POST
    Becky Samuel
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    X post and also very, very old post. The expiry date on that voucher is June 1 2013.

    #61

    This Is What Our Social Studies Teacher Told Us North America Is

    Map of North America highlighting the United States, showing geographical boundaries and nearby oceans.

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    C B Jones
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Other comments made me doubt myself but I checked and re-checked on half a dozen sources and yes: Greenland IS in North America, Mexico IS in North America, and Central America IS a subregion of North America too. The map is right, the teacher is wrong.

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    #62

    My Son Works At A Fairly Prestigious Charter School. This Is What They Served High School Kids For Lunch

    School lunch with sunflower butter, raisins, carrots, and string cheese on a tray.

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    #63

    We Live 0.7 Miles From My Daughter's School So She Is Ineligible For Bussing. Yet Every Morning As We Leave For School, This Thing Idles Out Front

    View from a window with a school bus parked outside, representing typical US school experiences.

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    Bernd Herbert
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    sorry, but 0.7 miles is very much in walking distance. let alone for a very short bike ride.

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    #64

    This Milk At My School

    A horrifying school lunch experience with a frozen milk block on a cafeteria tray.

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    Kabuki Kitsune
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The milk is frozen folks. The original image had the student noting that they thought it was funny that the milk cooler had gotten so cold, it froze their milk into a brick.

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    #66

    These Tables At My School

    Empty school desks arranged awkwardly illuminating a typical US school experience.

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    Geoffrey Scott
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Looks as if some are adjustable. Always drove me nuts in summer when putting the rooms back together if I couldn't level work pods. Most desks are adjustable.

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    #67

    Honestly I’d Rather Just Ask For Cash

    Pink letter about a school candy sale with notes on pricing, sales tax, and profit margin.

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    Jrog
    Community Member
    1 week ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They are actually acting in a commendable way. If their sales tax is 4% (that is among the highest, can be as low as 1% while groceries can be taxed up to 10% because America loves their unhealthy food...), and their cost of good is $35 per box, the surcharge is actually sensible for a charity or fundraising. Of course they would be happy if you renounce the candies and just give them cash, but as far as a charity sale go this is not half as bad.

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    #68

    My School Could Afford $6000000 Worth Of Renovations But They Can’t Afford Toilet Paper That I Can’t See Through

    Thin toilet paper in a school restroom highlights horrifying US school experiences.

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    Kabuki Kitsune
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Toiletries are done based on contract for an entire district, not for a single school, and typically are based around the idea of preventing (or at least making it very difficult) for a student to maliciously clog a toilet. This thin paper dissolves much easier, and makes it harder for someone to stuff an entire roll into the toilet and create a flood to get out of class, or school. That's the same reason that stores and malls use this same kind of paper.

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    #70

    The Wall Clock In My Old Elementary School’s Gym ⏰

    A wall clock covered with a metal cage in a school hallway, illustrating horrifying school experiences.

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    Lisa DC
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We had these and I get it. I once busted a light fixture in the ceiling of the gym. It rained glass. The cage is fair.

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