# questions about other countries that you've never gotten a straight answer to **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 8, 2003, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-other-countries-that-youve-never-gotten-a-straight-answer-to/159834 "2003-03-08T02:03:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Lezaza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Lezaza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lezaza)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-other-countries-that-youve-never-gotten-a-straight-answer-to/159834/161 "2003-03-12T08:50:13Z")
Just tossing in a question about the school systems. In the U.S of A, the school system goes like: Elementary School - grades k-5 Intermediate School - grades 6-8 High School - grades 9-10 and after that comes University, yes? Well, in sweden we have: Elementary School: grades 1-6 (ages 7-12) Intermediate School: grades 7-9 (ages 13-15) and High School: grades 1-3 (elementary and intermediate are compulsory, while High School is a choice. You don’t want to go, you don’t go.) (ages 16-18). and afgter that it’s university. but what ages are there in the US? And how is the UK’s schoolsystem? You don’t hear anything about it very often. just curious. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Doris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@Sir\_Doris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Doris)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-other-countries-that-youve-never-gotten-a-straight-answer-to/159834/162 "2003-03-12T11:24:14Z")
**Public Schools in the UK** Public schools were endowed schools as opposed to private schools or private tuition. The endower could set restrictions on who would be allowed in e.g. schools would be set up by guilds for the eduction of sons of guild members. Over the years these conditions became less important so any of the right sort (with the right money) could attend. The Clarendon commission (leading to the Public Schools Act 1868, IIRC) investigated the state of secondary eduction in such schools and found most offering purely elementary education. The nine that the commision consider did offer secondary education are those which we call public schools today (Eton, Rugby, Winchester, Harrow, Shrewsbury, Charterhouse, Merchant Taylors are all I can remember). Some consider this to have been official approval of the hijacking of public resources for the exclusive use of the rich, regardless of the original specification of the endowment. [The Guardian’s take](http://education.guardian.co.uk/specialreports/educationincrisis/story/0,5500,144359,00.html) IIRC, since the act a charter is needed to be classified as a public school. Obviously “public” no longer has the same meaning as it did before the act (how common the term was, I don’t know) it now means elite. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-other-countries-that-youve-never-gotten-a-straight-answer-to/159834/163 "2003-03-12T11:31:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lezaza \* > \*\*but what ages are there in the US? And how is the UK’s schoolsystem? You don’t hear anything about it very often. > \*\* Typically in the US… Schooling that is not legally required, except on some state levels: Nursery school: 3-4 yrs Preschool: 4-5 years (but nursery and preschool can and often does overlap, and may kids only go to one or the other) Kindergarten: 5yrs Schooling legally required at least until age 16, students begin the school year (Late August/Early September for most schools, though some are year-round) at the following ages: 1st grade: 6 years 2nd grade: 7 years 3rd grade: 8 years 4th grade: 9 years 5th grade: 10 years 6th grade: 11 years 7th grade: 12 years 8th grade: 13 years 9th grade: 14 years 10th grade: 15 years 11 grade: 16 years 12th grade: 17 years By the time 12th grade is over in June, most kids have passed their 18th birthdays. However, it’s not at all unusual, given the fact that many schools have an Oct 1st cut-off date for 1st grade registration, to have kids who are a year older, or nearly a year younger than the norm in every class. The older kids were the ones who missed the cut-off the year before, and the younger ones just barely made it. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-other-countries-that-youve-never-gotten-a-straight-answer-to/159834/164 "2003-03-12T11:44:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ruadh \* > \*\*Thanks ost, but by “definitive answer” I meant “one with a cite”. 'Cause now I’ve got _three_ reasonable alternatives. \*\* I am the cite! I went to Winchester and that’s what they told me! ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-other-countries-that-youve-never-gotten-a-straight-answer-to/159834/165 "2003-03-12T11:49:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Laughing Lagomorph \* > \*\* > > Are you making fun of American football, or are you saying we are competitive at the international level only in women’s soccer/football/futobol? \*\* The Second one - The USA is very good at ladies football (soccer if you must), however this is of no account to anyone. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-other-countries-that-youve-never-gotten-a-straight-answer-to/159834/166 "2003-03-12T12:40:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by owlstretchingtime \* > \*\*The Second one - The USA is very good at ladies football (soccer if you must), however this is of no account to anyone. \*\* **owlstretchingtime** : I assume that you are English; if you’re from a country with a _real_ football team (like Germany, Brazil or the Netherlands), then the following comments don’t apply. This is either a joke or you are sadly misinformed. The USA have just made the Quarterfinals in the last Cup. They came damned close to winning and played excellent football (the Polish game being excepted). And the _last_ time that England and USA met in a World Cup match we kicked England’s ass. Granted, that was a long time ago, but it’s also been a long time since England won their Cup, and even that was on home soil. Since then they’ve been mainly unremarkable. In fairness, England does have a much better home league, but it’s staffed by brilliant imports, made possible by the money spent quenching the English obsession for football. Net, you have better fans (behvioural issues aside). ---
**Author:** ![elfje](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19b73/32.png) [@elfje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfje)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-other-countries-that-youve-never-gotten-a-straight-answer-to/159834/167 "2003-03-12T12:58:42Z")
biscuits are called crackers this side of the pond, and yes, we do eat them. all sorts, even 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Meros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Meros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meros)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-other-countries-that-youve-never-gotten-a-straight-answer-to/159834/168 "2003-03-12T14:39:26Z")
Bringing up the biscuit question again. I just got done talking to a British faculty member who happens to be one of my users, and naturally I HAD to pose this question to her. She said yes they do, sort of. Our biscuits are a descendent, or at least a close cousin to scones. She said in particular the cheese scones taste a lot like the cheddar biscuits from Red Lobster (YUMMMY!!) ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-other-countries-that-youve-never-gotten-a-straight-answer-to/159834/169 "2003-03-12T16:21:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ShibbOleth \* > \*\ ***owlstretchingtime** : I assume that you are English; if you’re from a country with a _real_ football team (like Germany, Brazil or the Netherlands), then the following comments don’t apply. > > This is either a joke or you are sadly misinformed. The USA have just made the Quarterfinals in the last Cup. They came damned close to winning and played excellent football (the Polish game being excepted). And the _last_ time that England and USA met in a World Cup match we kicked England’s ass. Granted, that was a long time ago, but it’s also been a long time since England won their Cup, and even that was on home soil. Since then they’ve been mainly unremarkable. > > In fairness, England does have a much better home league, but it’s staffed by brilliant imports, made possible by the money spent quenching the English obsession for football. Net, you have better fans (behvioural issues aside). \*\* _sigh_ The only reason that the US even gets to the WC finals is that they are in the weakest qualifying group. They woudn’t qualify out of any other group, even Oceania. Sad, but true. And yes they beat England, that’s the wonderfull thing about football, anyone can beat anyone else on their day. If England played the US 100 times England would win about 80 games with 10 draws and 10 defeats. ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-other-countries-that-youve-never-gotten-a-straight-answer-to/159834/170 "2003-03-12T16:22:39Z")
OK, I’ll admit it. I’m an Australian guy and I love the American accent. You have an American accent, and that makes you fascinating. I don’t understand it. I find America fascinating and would love to go there, but you’d think I could get all the American accents I wanted on TV. It should work like that, but somehow, it doesn’t. American accents on TV don’t sound like American accents from real lif people. Except on Survivor, but that’s because they’re real life people. Do Americans notice this, or is it my imagination? Is there a TV-American accent? More US questions… What is Chicago’s image? New York has an image. Los Angeles has an image. Both these major cities have an important place in American folklore. Does Chicago have an image like this? Does Orange County really exist? I’ve seen it on maps, but no, really… does it actually exist? Does Texas actually exist? I’ve seen it on King of the Hill, but, no, really, does it actually exist? * * * > [@](#): > > _originially posted by amanset_ > Scotland and England are quite different in non sported related matters, in such a way that many people in Britain consider them seperate countries, not just provinces of Britain. Look at their justice and educational systems for a start, not forgetting that there is now a Scottish Parliament. Rhetorical question time: What does Tony Blair have to do with Scotland? Who is the Scottish Prime Minister? Who do the Scots pay their taxes to? ---
**Author:** ![elfje](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19b73/32.png) [@elfje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfje)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-other-countries-that-youve-never-gotten-a-straight-answer-to/159834/171 "2003-03-12T16:27:37Z")
oh, come on, gex gex, I’m not from the US, but even I know Chicago’s referred to as the Windy City! It’s the city of Al Capone, of the Smashing Pumpkins… And the capitol of Illinois 😉 I’m sure Americans will know more than this, but at least it['s a start! ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-other-countries-that-youve-never-gotten-a-straight-answer-to/159834/172 "2003-03-12T16:38:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gex gex \* > \*\* > > Rhetorical question time: What does Tony Blair have to do with Scotland? Who is the Scottish Prime Minister? Who do the Scots pay their taxes to? \*\* Tony Blair is PM of the United Kingdom, which includes Scotland. Thus he is prime minister of Scotland (in fact he is a sweaty himself, and his party is by far the most popular north of the border). Some powers have been devolved to the Scottish Parliament - a regional parliament, but the real power is still in Downing St. For instance Scotland does not have it’s own defense forces. If there is a Scottish PM it is Jack McConnell - the First Minister The Scots pay the same income tax as we do, and it goes on the same stuff. I belive the Parliament has some limited tax raising ability - I’m not sure about this. ---
**Author:** ![Davebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Davebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Davebear)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-other-countries-that-youve-never-gotten-a-straight-answer-to/159834/173 "2003-03-12T17:14:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gex gex \* > \*\*What is Chicago’s image? Does Chicago have an image like this? \*\* Sure. As, **elfje** said, it’s the home of Al Capone, Deep Dish Pizza, and the political saying “Remember to vote early and often.” Nice people, if a little overweight, on average. A more moderate pace of life than NY or LA (or Boston!). It’s also a GREAT city to visit. Lots to do and relatively easy to get around. > [@](#): > > **Does Orange County really exist? I’ve seen it on maps, but no, really… does it actually exist?** Sure. It’s not actually all orange, though, if that’s what you’re thinking. 😉 > [@](#): > > **Does Texas actually exist? I’ve seen it on King of the Hill, but, no, really, does it actually exist?** No. Texas is a myth that exists only in the minds of people who wish they were living on the fontier. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Davebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Davebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Davebear)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-other-countries-that-youve-never-gotten-a-straight-answer-to/159834/174 "2003-03-12T17:18:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elfje \* > \*\*oh, come on, gex gex, I’m not from the US, but even I know Chicago’s referred to as the Windy City! > It’s the city of Al Capone, of the Smashing Pumpkins… > > And the capitol of Illinois ;-)\*\* Okay, wiseguy/gal. We’re supposed to be fighting ignorance, not perpetuating it. 🙂 You just wanted to force someone to have to say that Springfield is the capital of Illinois, not Chicago, didn’t ya? ---
**Author:** ![Davebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Davebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Davebear)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-other-countries-that-youve-never-gotten-a-straight-answer-to/159834/175 "2003-03-12T18:04:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > **_Ahem_ I cannot let this stand. My life to date has been a trans-global culinary expedition. If you think squid is _slimy_, you obviously haven’t had it plucked fresh from the tank, and hard-fried in aromatic batter in a little canopied restaurant on the boardwalk over the fish farms of Sok Kwu Wan harbor, South China Sea.** GAaaak! :eek: No! I haven’t. Nor have I eaten crispy-fried cockroaches or live earthworms. And, I’m not going to, either. But, I did work in a bait shop, long ago, so I _know_ squid is slimy. And, it’s bait. 🙂 > [@](#): > > \*\*Coming to the subject of biscuits - well, you may have a point. Since I don’t have a good ol’ southern grammy to make me grits and other down-home cookin’, my experience thereof is kind of limited to what one can buy in food outlets. And starved of said fluffy bread rolls in Europe, there is a chance that my palate has become amnesiac, associating KFC muck with the steaming, cloying ambrosia that is attainable if one has the right heritage. \*\* Sheer poetry. 🙂 Makes me kinda wish _I_ had a good ‘ol southern grammy. But, then she’d probably whup me for not eatin’ my okra. ---
**Author:** ![Davebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Davebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Davebear)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-other-countries-that-youve-never-gotten-a-straight-answer-to/159834/176 "2003-03-12T18:07:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by scablet \* > \*\*Yes, those are the Botched Italics Brackets of Pity! \*\* We are honored to be admitted to the presence of such holy icons. Nice recovery! Very funny. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Davebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Davebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Davebear)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-other-countries-that-youve-never-gotten-a-straight-answer-to/159834/177 "2003-03-12T18:12:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by amarone \* > \*\*Please do not judge British cooking on the ability of an American fast food joint to cook American-style biscuits. \*\* You forgot the [Pompous Droning Monotone/] tags. 😃 Seriously, I know British cooking is, on the whole, no worse than most other places, and probably more suitable for someone like me than, say, Thailand. It’s just such an amusing stereotype to poke fun at. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Davebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Davebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Davebear)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-other-countries-that-youve-never-gotten-a-straight-answer-to/159834/178 "2003-03-12T18:17:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > \*\* BTW, **Davebear** , I recommend reading anything by the wonderful [Nigel Slater](http://www.4thestate.co.uk/books/book.aspx?id=19610&genre=cookery), who will give you more of an indication of the state of British cooking than fast food will. \*\* I guess I really hit a sore spot on a number of people. I apologize if I’ve truly offended anyone. It was all intended in fun. I know of Nigel Slater. He has a show on Food Network. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-other-countries-that-youve-never-gotten-a-straight-answer-to/159834/179 "2003-03-12T18:18:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by owlstretchingtime \* > \*\*_sigh_ > > The only reason that the US even gets to the WC finals is that they are in the weakest qualifying group. They woudn’t qualify out of any other group, even Oceania. Sad, but true. > > And yes they beat England, that’s the wonderfull thing about football, anyone can beat anyone else on their day. If England played the US 100 times England would win about 80 games with 10 draws and 10 defeats. \*\* You are delusional. England’s qualifying group of Albania, Greece, Finland and Germany was certainly nothing to complain about. Sure, there are tougher draws out of UEFA, but Germany was down when the qualifying started and struggled to go through. I’m not saying that CONCACAF is tougher, just that the USA won their group as they were expected to do. And saying that they couldn’t possibly go through from Oceania? Right. Just because the Socceroos destroyed England doesn’t make Oceania a powerhouse all of a sudden. USA have a very strong record in the Internationals which they’ve played in the last several years. They demolished Portugal and Mexico in the finals this year, and barely lost to Germany. More importantly they finally played with some style and passion, something from which perhaps the English could take a lesson. And they have good young players in the pipeline. I just hope we draw into the English\* group in 2006 so that we have an easy path through to the round of 16. \*Although it’s a large presumption that England will go through ---
**Author:** ![Davebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Davebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Davebear)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-other-countries-that-youve-never-gotten-a-straight-answer-to/159834/180 "2003-03-12T18:21:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shade \* > \*\*Just kidding, that was funny \*\* WooHoo! Someone finally liked one of my jokes! 😃 Are you from Kansas, **Shade**? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-other-countries-that-youve-never-gotten-a-straight-answer-to/159834.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-other-countries-that-youve-never-gotten-a-straight-answer-to/159834.md?page=10)