25 Weird School Rules You Won’t Believe Exist

Some schools will go to any length to make sure their students are paying attention. Apparently bare shoulders can cause students to lose focus. According to a Redditor, exposed shoulders were banned at their school.

Called a “Schultüte,” there’s a longstanding tradition of giving German first graders a cone of toys as they enter the first grade. It symbolizes a change of status in life.

If your school has a “Coke Day,” it’s probably wise not to wear their competitor’s t-shirts. But that’s what Michael Cameron did anyway, wearing a Pepsi t-shirt when Coca-Cola executives came to his school for a contest to win $10,000 dollars. Even though the executives weren’t offended by it, the principal suspended Mr. Cameron anyway.

In an effort to curb childhood obesity, Massachusetts schools banned bake sales. However, a massive outcry followed, saying they were being “food police.”

All bad things happen in groups of five, or so this school thought when it decided to ban students gathering together in groups of five or greater.

In a Sydney school, children were not permitted to perform cartwheels without the direct supervision of a trained gymnastics instructor.

While it’s not uncommon for Kindergarteners to take quick naps, in China, they allow for older students to take thirty-minute naps. Studies have shown a short nap can improve memory and performance in school.

Schools in New Hampshire have banned dodgeball and other “human target” sports, pointing to bullying and violence as main reasons.

In an attempt to be gender inclusive, Nebraska schools required teachers not to call their students “boys” and “girls,” but “Purple Penguins” or other gender-neutral names that include everyone.

If you think this is over the top, wait until you see number 2!

Despite the health benefits of kids riding their bikes to school, New Jersey schools banned bikes, citing safety and liability issues.

Though it may seem like a style ban at first, the Pennsylvania schools banned Ugg boots because girls were smuggling banned cell phones in them.

A California junior high school principal banned all high fives and hugs despite an uproar from students. She said students should keep their hands to themselves.

Nicholas Elementary School in Frisco, TX has banned Christmas and any other religious holiday. They specifically noted no Christmas trees or the colors red and green at their winter party. The reason? to avoid offending anyone.

In an effort to protect their culture from becoming “too American,” French schools banned ketchup from being put on any food except french fries.

Wanting to encourage children to play in larger groups, schools in the UK have banned “best friends,” hoping it would protect children from the trauma of having break ups with close friends.

Japan schools only allow one good luck bracelet, anything greater than that is considered cheating. Apparently, there is such a thing as too much good luck.

A New York school teacher limited her student’s bathroom breaks to three times a week, handing out coupons they can use. They get three minutes, and if they lose the coupons, then they’re going to have to hold it for quite a while.

Stephanie Hughes, a high school student in Kentucky, was sent home for violating the dress code and showing her collarbone. Supposedly, the school doesn’t want girls distracting the male students.

Stating the color red is too negative, teachers in UK are banned from using it to grade their papers and must use a more calming color instead.

A school in Georgia banned acronyms like “LOL” and asked students to sign a pledge saying they would respect their yearbooks and not write in them with those kinds of words.

After a parent received a concussion from being hit in the head with a ball, a Toronto principal banned hard balls, saying that they are too dangerous.

For kids, running and playing at recess is a necessity after sitting in a classroom for a long time. Unfortunately for kids at an unnamed school, a “no running policy” had been put in place. While the school’s reason is to keep the kids safe, this rule has to be one of the top 10 dumbest school rules ever.

While Iraq is under ISIS control, the University of Mosul has been ordered to have gender segregation. They’ve also imposed severe changes to the curriculum, imposing Sharia Law and removing all hints of Iraqi nationalism and culture.

In an effort to protect their students’ feelings, several prep schools in New York have banned students from announcing whether or not they’ve been accepted into college.

Speaking of not hurting anyone’s feelings, a new study shows that two out of three schools in the UK are rewarding all students rather than handing out awards to the students who actually win at something.

If you enjoyed this list, be sure to check out 25 Most Ridiculous Things You Won’t Believe Are Banned In Schools.