20 times American schools did something weird and left the rest of the world saying, 'Wait, what?'

Schools are meant to be spaces where students can learn, socialize, engage in activities, and, above all, feel safe. However, it seems that things don’t always go as expected in some American schools. From teachers discouraging students from pursuing their dreams to unsafe infrastructure in school buildings, students seemingly cannot catch a break. Even universities aren't exempt, with issues ranging from inadequate seating arrangements during lectures to a lack of teachers equipped to deliver quality education.

Many people took to the r/mildlyinfuriating subreddit to shed light on the realities of American schools and their often baffling practices. From teachers bribing students to implementing overly strict bathroom break policies, these schools leave students confused and questioning the purpose of their education. In more alarming instances, kids text their parents out of fear of potential school shootings. Meanwhile, school authorities frequently overlook teachers’ efforts, failing to acknowledge their hard work. Below are some examples shared by Reddit users that highlight how American schools can be both surprising and concerning compared to those in other parts of the world.

1. Uninspiring teacher comment

2. A university anatomy course censoring body parts

3. A school that started an eco-friendly project by giving out apples to students

4. "So my sister's school had $4000 they could spend on whatever. They choose this piece of educational art."

5. "Do as the teacher says, not as the teacher does."

6. "My school asked us to research and watch a TedTalk despite blocking their website and videos on YouTube."

7. "My school wants us to allow this on our personal devices, just to use Google Classroom."

8. "My kid's teacher said Gnome begins with N."

9. "During the summer, my school installed metal gates over the bathrooms to keep us from going in between classes."

10. "Online school started and I can’t learn now."

11. "My teacher only lets us go to the bathroom three times a month."

12. "What my school gave its teachers for Teacher Appreciation Week."

13. "My school’s decision to put office tiles in a gym."

14. "Just paid $800 for my school books but it's loose-leaf paper!"

15. "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."

16. "My high school nurse sent me back to class even though I had obvious symptoms. I got home and immediately tested positive for COVID. Shoutout to the best nurse ever!"

17. This school thinks this meal fills up hungry high schoolers

18. A bag full of contradictions

19. A Texas teacher gives A's to students who buy his book and leave a 5-star review on Amazon

20. 12-year-old texts parent about school shooting threat