UK and America are two countries separated by a common language, UK and US Q&A

[Pipbin]

Continuation of the previous thread where posters from the UK ask questions like 'what the hell is going on with the gaps in US toilet doors'; and posters fro the US ask things like 'what is with wearing stripes'

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/a2149133-to-think-there-is-something-wrong-with-Americans?msgid=48969042#48969042

CheerfulYank, here in the Northeast, the cutoff age for starting school is usually Dec 31, not Sept 1 like where you are!

Also, our schools never ever start before Labor Day! They usually finish towards the end of June.

In the US, even basics like school-starting age depend on where you live - there's no national standard like in the UK.

I grew up in the US and I'm learning things from this thread about other parts of the country!

On the downside, one wonders if the lack of social cohesion in the US is partly attributable to these differences. Even the inconsequential ones contribute to the cultural fragmentation of a nation. When I first moved to the UK, I was struck by its much stronger social and cultural cohesion.

Really, December? I never knew that! It's always been September where I live...my birthday is in May and my brother's is in July. We both went at five and were among the youngest.

I'm also northeast but our cutoff is October 31st (although as far as I can see everyone ignores it).

School finishes around June 15th and starts the day after Labor Day.

I agree ljny - the country varies so much. Blanket statements about 'all Americans' are almost always wrong.

Why on Pinterest do I keep seeing teacher packs that include 'supply lists' to give out to parents? Do you not have a school budget

We do have a school budget but it doesn't include much stationery. I just spent $50 per child on stationery for the year. It's not a biggie to me, and if you can't afford it then it's fine not to buy it.

Do US women spend a lot more time on hair and makeup than we do in the UK? I think I wouldn't want to live there for that reason, everyone seems so well groomed

That's a regional thing I think. My impression from working in a company with offices all over the country was that women in the south tended to be much better groomed than women in the north.

I don't spend any more on hair and makeup since I moved here (and I didn't spend a lot in the UK either)...

Why can some schools refuse to teach evolution? Do you have any religious teaching in schools?

Here's my impression (I'm not a teacher...)

There isn't a national curriculum here, so unlike the UK where schools have to teach certain subjects certain ways, in the US the schools have more freedom to teach what/how they choose.

The argument over whether or not schools can teach evolution has been fought in courts on a state-by-state basis.

Schools can and do teach comparative religion. They tend to leave it later, usually high school, as students are more ready for it then. What they can't do is teach a particular religion's beliefs and promote it over other religions.

All of this refers to public schools funded by the government. My impression is private schools can do what they like.

The cut off date in Rhode Island (where I started school) was the 1st of December, whereas when my dad retired from military and we ended up settling eventually in MN, the cutoff date there was the 1st of September, as my sister's birthday is the day before and she only just made it under the wire.

Lots of things are regulated by the state, instead of nationally. It's the reason my ex was able to dodge child support of any kind for over 10 years. He lived in Missouri, but as soon as they found him, he moved just over the border into Kansas. We had to start the whole procedure over again, filing paperwork in Kansas, getting him served, and so on. Once they reached the stage that he was ordered to start paying, he moved back to Missouri and we were right back to square one again.

One of the things that I admire about the UK is that corporal punishment has been illegal in schools for a long time. It's still legal in 19 states in the US, although its use decreases each year, and most states where it is legal allow individual school districts to ban it. It's legal in the state I live in, but most children live in school districts where it has been banned.

I remember getting a paddling in school when I was 7 - that was 42 years ago - in Missouri. It might still be technically legal, but I'd be surprised if it's actually done nowadays, with society in the US being so ready to sue.

It's use is declining, but it still happens, mainly in the South.

Some statistics in this article.

www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/07/17/school-district-ban-paddling-rural-areas-defend/12421465/

States that allow it often include legal protections for teachers/school administrators if they are sued.

Funny, I was going to say if it did, I would expect it to be in the South. (yep, that there is one of those statements that would get me in trouble, wouldn't it? )

We get school supply lists every year. This year DS is in first grade and we supply pencils, crayons, folders, Ziploc bags, tissues, and cleaning wipes.

There is a drive every year at the local coffee shop where people bring items or families that can't afford them.

Alice Not this time; you would be right.

OK at least 2 people have mentioned Labo(u)r day. What is it? When is it?

Labor Day is the first Monday in September. It honors American workers and grew out of the American labor (trade union) movement. It is also sort of the unofficial end of summer; Memorial Day at the end of May being the unofficial start of summer.

All I know about labour day is that you shouldn't wear white after it.

Y'all need to read A Southern Belle Primer: Why Princess Margaret Will Never Be a Kappa Kappa Gamma. (Kappa Kappa Gamma is one of the more elite sororities.) Evidently poor Princess M turned up somewhere in the South wearing white shoes after Labor Day.

Alternate side of the street parking (where you have to swap over every night) - is it common, and what's the advantage - why not just make one side of the road parking and the other non-parking?

One of the things that I admire about the UK is that corporal punishment has been illegal in schools for a long time. It's still legal in 19 states in the US, although its use decreases each year, and most states where it is legal allow individual school districts to ban it. It's legal in the state I live in, but most children live in school districts where it has been banned.

Yes, I never understood the need to paddle kids in school anyway. My husband was paddled at the school he went to, and the boys just used it as badges of honor. He stands by it and says it kept him in line and made him the respectful man he is today (he is, and it's not because of a freaking paddle). Parents have to sign a waiver, otherwise the students get detentions instead. The students themselves also have a choice in some places between a paddle or a phone call home and detention.

But DH was very pro-corporal punishment.. until he held DD. Then it took a complete 180 and now its "Well, if she acts up she's getting a very stern time out".

Alternate side of the street parking - WTF? Is that actually a thing? How could that work? What if you went on holiday?

Pipbin - they have this in Belgium too (and I think parts of France). For the first part of the month, you park on one side of the road, and the other for the rest of the month.

Can you get 'proper' chocolate in US? I brought back a mixed bag of Hershey bars when over there years ago and I couldn't believe how revolting it was - it tasted of soap I chucked it out and chocolate never gets thrown out in this house!

No the chocolate sucks. I'll give you Brits that one :)

Speaking of school cut off dates (I haven't lived in the US in 12 years nor with children), say your child is the oldest here but due to the state/city you are moving to there they will be the youngest. Is it as hard there as it is here to hold your child back a year in this situation? UK schools will have none of it unless there is SEN involved (even then they are quite tricky)...