Americans and Canadians culture Q&A Thread.

[Buzz Rules]

I’m sure our residential schools have spirits surrounding them

Sorry. I didn’t think of that when I asked the question.

 

[ronandannette]

I hadn’t thought of that. I was assuming all gyms were as big as the ones I know of.
Still weird to separate them into boys and girls though.



He’s saying the boys can’t control themselves around the girls, and a visible bra strap could lead to who knows what.

That's funny! At the private school my DS went to, indoor Phys. ED required a get-up called a gym-strip that was paid for with the textbook rentals. Same for both boys and girls - baggy shorts and crew neck t-shirts with short sleeves. No worry about bra straps there.

And for any student violating the dress code (no uniforms at the school), the punishment would be to have to wear your gym-strip that day; winter or summer. You could always tell who'd been "busted" at pick-up time and the hilarious things was it was always more boys than girls, for wearing their pants too low. Were they tempting the girls? I doubt it. Is there a woman alive of any age that finds that attractive?

 

[ronandannette]

It’s a common thing in the USA.

It could be common here too for all I know. Canada is a big place, after all, and I don't presume to speak for all 37 million of us.

 

[Buzz Rules]

It could be common here too for all I know. Canada is a big place, after all, and I don't presume to speak for all 37 million of us.

But you would be a great spokesperson.

 

[tvguy]

It could be common here too for all I know. Canada is a big place, after all, and I don't presume to speak for all 37 million of us.

I messaged my cousin who teaches public High School in Ottawa and he says PE is not co-ed at his school. So clearly it varies.

 

[prairie_girl]

I messaged my cousin who teaches public High School in Ottawa and he says PE is not co-ed at his school. So clearly it varies.

lol of course you did

 

[prairie_girl]

I messaged my cousin who teaches public High School in Ottawa and he says PE is not co-ed at his school. So clearly it varies.

There you go, @ronandannette, one gym speaks for Canada, so you can too.

 

[ronandannette]

This thing's pretty heavy - I'm going to need some help.

 

[prairie_girl]

This thing's pretty heavy - I'm going to need some help.

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I have a feeling we’re going to be accused of being mean and bullies again LOL

 

[Buzz Rules]

This thing's pretty heavy - I'm going to need some help.

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So can I carry the USA flag then?

 

[fab1976]

Maybe they have segregated gym classes? I'm sure I've seen that scenario in movies and on TV. That's not the way it's done here though, either 35 years ago when I was in high school or when my DS was, much more recently. Phys. ED at all grade levels is co-ed.

Wow! Our high schools have boy/girl phys Ed still! Little unsure how they still do that and how they will proceed when gender has become such a fluid thing for kids that age now.

 

[fab1976]

My kids went to private schools and those test scores are what they live and die for in their marketing. I didn't pay much attention until my daughter started her Freshman year of college in 2009. She was astounded at how poorly prepared for college her classmates who came up through the public school system were for college. A lot of them having to take remedial English, Math and Science to get up to speed.
I also have mixed feeling about the value of a Teaching Credential. Until High School very few of my kid's teachers had Credentials. My daughter's First grade teacher did not have a credential but had been teaching for over 40 years. She felt no value in a credential and was very open about that. She was the best teacher I have ever seen. The most ironic thing, she was the teacher the local Cal State University always placed Student Teachers with.

All teachers in Ontario have to go through university as well as a 2 year teachers program after. Even substitute teachers. With the teacher shortage they had some unqualified teachers in emergencies when no one picked up the job, that was up to a couple people at my/my daughters school some days. Serious shortages here, it’s sad.

 

[fab1976]

Canadians, do you ever stream sports games/movies on a projector outside in your backyard on warm nights?

I don’t but I do know someone who does. So it’s done, but not by everyone.

 

[ronandannette]

So can I carry the USA flag then?

No - that's the whole point, actually. Each of us on this thread represent only a very, very small part of any given thing that goes on in our respective countries. Sure, there are many aspects of shared national ethos and pathos, but in general, we really only represent our own experiences when it comes to some of the more specific questions.

 

[fab1976]

Well I missed some comments! I have a group of friends from across Canada, I’m going to survey them and see if high school phys Ed is separated by gender where they are. My son is going into grade 10, which is second year of high school. He loved high school gym so much more than his other years. It’s optional after grade 9, and he hadn’t had gym before course selection, so he won’t be taking it in grade 10. Maybe when he enters grade 11 it will have changed.

Also, someone mentioned “gym strip”. Very much a western Canada thing, that’s been discussed in the group I mentioned above! We just call them gym clothes.

Oh and my secondary school (high school) had 2 separate gyms with one of those 2 big enough to be split into two with a divider. That’s what the elementary school gym is too, has a divider so it can be split into two.

 

[Buzz Rules]

No - that's the whole point, actually. Each of us on this thread represent only a very, very small part of any given thing that goes on in our respective countries. Sure, there are many aspects of shared national ethos and pathos, but in general, we really only represent our own experiences when it comes to some of the more specific questions.

It was only a joke. I totally understand what you meant by your original comment.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Is American humor and Canadian humor different?

 

[prairie_girl]

Is American humor and Canadian humor different?

Only in the way it’s spelt.

 

[pigletto]

Canadians, do you ever stream sports games/movies on a projector outside in your backyard on warm nights?

My neighbour is projecting the UFC on his garage next door tonight and they have some friends over in big blow up pool.

They are a young 20’s bunch and super nice. Couldn’t ask for nicer neighbours .. which I only mention because the above sounds like it could be loud and crazy but it’s not at all.

 

[ronandannette]

Only in the way it’s spelt.

A Manitoban making grain jokes...there's classic regional Canadian humor right there!!