Kids have no idea why.! THIS quirky pen licence tradition will take you right back to your school days
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A musician has left many American fans bewildered after revealing a uniquely Australian school tradition that has sparked a lively debate online.
This ‘bizarre’ rite of passage involves earning a pen licence, a concept that seems almost alien to children in the United States.
What exactly is a pen licence — and why has it caused such a stir?
G Flip, the Melbourne-born singer and drummer who uses they/them pronouns, recently shared their discovery that Americans do not have a pen licence tradition as children.
Having relocated to the United States following their marriage to reality star Chrishell Stause from Selling Sunset, G Flip explained the Aussie practice in a viral social media video.
In Australia, primary school students typically earn their pen licence around year three or four, usually when they are eight or nine years old.
The pen licence marks the official upgrade from writing with pencils to writing with pens. To qualify, students must pass a test assessing their handwriting legibility and neatness.
Once they meet the teacher’s standards, they receive a certificate granting them permission to use a pen in class.
‘I'm an Australian living in America and today I found out that Americans don't get their pen licence when they're a kid,’ G Flip said in the video.
‘So, in Australia, when you're eight or nine, you do a test to deem if you are ready to upgrade from a pencil to a pen.
‘You've got to make sure it's all legible and your letters look great and then your teacher will grade you ... and you will then get a certificate that says you can now use your pen, you've got your pen licence.
‘Apparently, Americans, y'all don't get a pen licence and you're out here using pencils until you're in your teens. That's a lot of sharpening!’
The video quickly gained over 1.5 million views and divided social media users, with many Americans baffled and Australians nostalgic.
Source: TikTok/gflipmusic
‘As an American growing up I just used pens anytime we don't need permission to use them wth lol,’ one American commenter wrote.
‘A pen license? Girl, we were signing yearbooks in gel ink with no adult supervision. This ain’t the DMV,’ another joked.
‘This has to be a lie,’ added a third American user, unable to believe the tradition was real.
Meanwhile, many Australians fondly recalled their own experiences earning a pen licence.
‘As a primary school teacher, I can’t tell you the joy it gives me to give a student their pen licence,’ one Aussie fan commented.
‘Anyone else left-handed and have their pen licence taken off them when they smudged the ink across the page?’ another reflected.
‘No pen licences is crazy. How do you know you are safe and ready to use a pen without one?’ asked a third.
Obtaining a pen licence remains a rite of passage in many Australian schools, symbolising a child’s growing maturity and responsibility in their writing skills.
The unusual tradition highlights the cultural differences between Australian and American schooling and continues to spark curious conversations online.
It’s interesting how different generations have their own unique ways of navigating everyday challenges.
Just like the quirky pen licence tradition sparked a conversation about childhood milestones, tax time has revealed some surprising strategies that younger people are using today.
If you’re curious about clever tips that could save you time and money, this next story is worth a look.
Read more: Gen Z’s surprising tax trick has older Aussies in shock! Could it save you time and money too?
Does your schooling have traditions that might seem strange to others?
This ‘bizarre’ rite of passage involves earning a pen licence, a concept that seems almost alien to children in the United States.
What exactly is a pen licence — and why has it caused such a stir?
G Flip, the Melbourne-born singer and drummer who uses they/them pronouns, recently shared their discovery that Americans do not have a pen licence tradition as children.
Having relocated to the United States following their marriage to reality star Chrishell Stause from Selling Sunset, G Flip explained the Aussie practice in a viral social media video.
In Australia, primary school students typically earn their pen licence around year three or four, usually when they are eight or nine years old.
G Flip reveals Aussie pen licence surprise. Image source: Pexels/Los Muertos Crew
Disclaimer: This is a stock image used for illustrative purposes only and does not depict the actual person, item, or event described.
Disclaimer: This is a stock image used for illustrative purposes only and does not depict the actual person, item, or event described.
The pen licence marks the official upgrade from writing with pencils to writing with pens. To qualify, students must pass a test assessing their handwriting legibility and neatness.
Once they meet the teacher’s standards, they receive a certificate granting them permission to use a pen in class.
‘I'm an Australian living in America and today I found out that Americans don't get their pen licence when they're a kid,’ G Flip said in the video.
‘So, in Australia, when you're eight or nine, you do a test to deem if you are ready to upgrade from a pencil to a pen.
‘You've got to make sure it's all legible and your letters look great and then your teacher will grade you ... and you will then get a certificate that says you can now use your pen, you've got your pen licence.
‘Apparently, Americans, y'all don't get a pen licence and you're out here using pencils until you're in your teens. That's a lot of sharpening!’
The video quickly gained over 1.5 million views and divided social media users, with many Americans baffled and Australians nostalgic.
Source: TikTok/gflipmusic
‘As an American growing up I just used pens anytime we don't need permission to use them wth lol,’ one American commenter wrote.
‘A pen license? Girl, we were signing yearbooks in gel ink with no adult supervision. This ain’t the DMV,’ another joked.
‘This has to be a lie,’ added a third American user, unable to believe the tradition was real.
Meanwhile, many Australians fondly recalled their own experiences earning a pen licence.
‘As a primary school teacher, I can’t tell you the joy it gives me to give a student their pen licence,’ one Aussie fan commented.
‘Anyone else left-handed and have their pen licence taken off them when they smudged the ink across the page?’ another reflected.
‘No pen licences is crazy. How do you know you are safe and ready to use a pen without one?’ asked a third.
Obtaining a pen licence remains a rite of passage in many Australian schools, symbolising a child’s growing maturity and responsibility in their writing skills.
The unusual tradition highlights the cultural differences between Australian and American schooling and continues to spark curious conversations online.
It’s interesting how different generations have their own unique ways of navigating everyday challenges.
Just like the quirky pen licence tradition sparked a conversation about childhood milestones, tax time has revealed some surprising strategies that younger people are using today.
If you’re curious about clever tips that could save you time and money, this next story is worth a look.
Read more: Gen Z’s surprising tax trick has older Aussies in shock! Could it save you time and money too?
Does your schooling have traditions that might seem strange to others?
