Anything unfamiliar to us can feel bizarre, no more so than when it concerns the familiar childhood setting of school. Learning about the reasons behind these differences is part of our lifelong education. Take a look at some school rules that may be very different to the ones you’re used to. Would you like to try out these classrooms?

England

Mounts Bay Academy in Cornwall has prohibited the use of red pens by teachers for marking. Red is a very negative color in western cultures as it’s associated with danger and stop. As an alternative, teachers are instructed to use green pens, while students are requested to use purple pens for providing feedback on their work.

Japan

In Japan, students in all schools are responsible for cleaning their classrooms. At the end of the day, they work as cleaning crews to show respect for their study spaces and keep the school neat. This short session of work also builds collective responsibility and allows the students to learn teamworking skills.

America

Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (CFISD) requires all high school and middle school students to use clear backpacks. These transparent bags improve safety by keeping everyone’s belongings in clear sight.

France

Ketchup is banned in all French schools, unless it’s a small serving on the side of fries. The French take gastronomy very seriously, and the government thought students weren’t appreciating the flavours enough when they drowned their food in ketchup.