Quote Originally Posted by Custard View Post
Since i am not living in America or Europe, could you please tell me about high school there? what can you guys get away with? bunking? opening books underneath the desk during a paper? what about having a a talk unrelated to the subject with the teacher during class? we can do these things here but can you also do this? Also what is the function for someone who dosent go to school? how long does he have to go school complusrily? If a person is home taught then does he have to attend school still? please answer some of these question. thank you!
I just graduated, so I guess I'm pretty up to date with this stuff. I can only tell you my experience at my USA mid-size city public high school, though.

At my school, people got away with basically all of that. I don't know about the attendance rules, though.

Skipping class, or school altogether, is pretty common. There is an absentee list taken at the beginning of each day, and teachers will send out an email or something if someone not on it doesn't show up, but if no one knows where the kid is, nothing happens. Often, kids with cars will just leave during the day, although it is also against the rules to go to the parking lot. Schools usually have incentive programs- my school gives suspensions for absences and tardies (three tardies equal an absence), but suspensions are not a big deal to most kids, and are viewed as a "day off." My school also gives exemption from final exams to those with acceptable grades and attendance records.

Cheating is pretty easy, and common. Books don't usually happen as they are bigger and bulkier- sometimes a book will be used, but it has to be put into the desk already open, and flipping pages is a hassle. Usually, students just have their notes. Also, with only one teacher in a class who usually does work of their own during a test, it is not hard to receive answers from other students by mouthing words or gesturing. Looking off of neighbor's papers works when sitting close together. And students are always willing to help each other, it's like an unofficial community thing that just happens.

As for teachers, it depends on the teacher. All of my teachers have had conversations with students, only the degree varies with the person. There is one teacher who is a jerk to some and favorites others. I usually get along pretty well with teachers, and have had many discussions with them while waiting on the bell to ring, or waiting on others in class to finish work.

Food, although you did not mention it, is also a big thing. Food and drink, even water, are technically not allowed, but this too varies with the teacher. Some teachers are okay with anything, others allow water but nothing else. And trust me, snacks are a big deal for students who go a good seven hours between breakfast and disgusting school lunch. Chips in the desk, water bottles, etc. Most teachers are sympathetic and adopt an attitude of "don't let any of the administrators walk by and see it." Some teachers even do the same with cell phones. Sometimes we really are as hidden as we think, but we know that just as often the teacher knows we have that phone or bag of chips hidden in the desk, and they simply ignore it.

Cell phones- there's another big one. Even more common than the food, but basically the same deal. Not allowed, but everyone uses them to varying degrees, and teachers have varying policies. Some people are also better at hiding them than others.

Pranks are taken very seriously, and people can be held from graduating for a harmless senior prank. So not much of that takes place.

Sleeping in class is frowned upon, but happens a lot. Usually it is determined by activity- if work is actually taking place, the student will be wakened, often humorously. If a movie is playing, or if the class or teacher just doesn't care, the student will be left.

High school students are a very sneaky bunch.



There are some other things you should know- the policy entitled "No Child Left Behind" basically says that every student has to pass. So schools focus their time and energies on the problem kids- everyone is encouraged to pass, and not much more. As a result, we are seeing more and more "babying" by school administrators and policies. High-scoring students are basically worshiped as they make the school look good. Sports are worshiped at most public schools.