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.

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.

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?

Key Takeaways

• Pen licences are an Australian primary school tradition to mark when children move from pencils to pens.
• G Flip’s video explaining the tradition gained over 1.5 million views and sparked debate between Australian and American viewers.
• Many Americans were surprised or sceptical about the need for a pen licence, while Australians recalled it fondly.
• The pen licence involves a handwriting test and a certificate awarded by teachers, symbolising readiness to use pens.

Does your schooling have traditions that might seem strange to others?

 

[Suzanne rose]

BIC Biros?

Tautology at its finest.

Do you drive a Honda Toyota??

 

[Wayneo]

what a load of shit.

 

[Ivory]

I can very vividly remember getting my pen licence, and I was so proud. The head nun had said I would never be good enough to receive it so that became super good. With me pen licence i graduated to inkwells and pens.

 

[Macarj]

I remember getting my pen license

 

[Macarj]

Never heard of a pen licence. Started with a slate, then pencil, then ink and pen followed by a biro. I’m in QLD.

Give the year

 

[Macarj]

I have heard of it though our little country school ( in the 60's QLD) never implemented it. My penmanship is atrocious. Even I can't understand it. Due to this, I print everything but my signature.

Queensland was a bit behind

 

[Macarj]

I remember pen licences starting in the late 90s when my younger kids were in school. Wasn't in when my older kids were in primary in the 80s and early 90s

I got my pen license in1964 I was 8 years old

 

[Viellarde]

Never heard of a pen licence. My wife is from NSW and I did my schooling in Qld neither of us have heard of this. We had slate and chalk, then ink pots along with pencils, then the Biro came into schools.

That's because we started with slate. Didn't we also have penmanship, even prior to using a pen? Later, our children and grandchildren started with pencil.
I can't recall many, if any, american students in films using pens. They're usually using pencils, even in Uni. Of course that's not to say they didn't also use pens.

 

[Viellarde]

In my earlier years, we only used pencils, Ink pens were only used by teachers to mark work and write report cards. Almost two decades ago, a primary school in Melbourne, that my daughters went to, would award the pen licence to a student, when a student would used correct spelling and have neat hand writing. With a pen, the student was expected to not make any spelling errors as the pen could not be rubbed out like the pencil. Interestingly, when a student received a pen licence, they jumped with joy almost as if they got their drivers licence. I think the teachers attached the word licence to the pen award, to make each student do their very best at writing, so they can be viewed as a licence holder, a bit out their parents who have a licence for driving.

Well said.

 

[Jennylolo]

We had them. I started teaching in 1977 and they existed then. Usually for cursive writing in biro. When I was a kid, it wasn't a license as such, but we progressed to fountain pens and ink in year 4, then cartridge fountain pens in year 5. Sometime in either year 5 or 6 the biro arrived and we tried these out they became the replacement fr anything ink.

 

[Colette 3799]

I had never heard of a pen licence till my grandkids were at school. My boys never had one when they were at school.

 

[Bridiecat]

Never heard this nonsense

 

[7777]

Never heard of a pen licence. My wife is from NSW and I did my schooling in Qld neither of us have heard of this. We had slate and chalk, then ink pots along with pencils, then the Biro came into schools.

Dear Old Bezza, thankyou for your post. The pen licence did not exist in our earlier days. The pen licence came into effect only two decades ago, so if your children did not attend a Melbourne school, within the last two decades, then you will not have heard about the pen licence. Wishing you a pleasant evening.

 

[7777]

Never heard this nonsense

Dear member Bridleway, thankyou for your post. Perhaps you never heard of this as you say nonsense, because it came into effect in Melbourne primary school two decades ago. The reason for the pen licence was to encourage students to write neatly with correct spelling. Once they were able to display neatness and correct spelling, that did not require rubbing out errors with a rubber, then that was when the student would be awarded a pen licence. And what joy that brought, the students felt like they had just received an important and respected title a licence, a pen licence, like their parents have a licence, but theirs is for driving. It gave the students a feeling of accomplishment and confidence. So you see just because you never heard of something, it does not have to be called nonsense. Wishing you a pleasant evening.

 

[7777]

I had never heard of a pen licence till my grandkids were at school. My boys never had one when they were at school.

The pen licence came into effect in the last twenty years in Melbourne primary schools,

 

[7777]

I’m from Victoria and I’ve never heard of a pen license.

You need to have gone to a Melbourne primary school within the last twenty years, to know about the pen licence.

 

[7777]

Ditto. Never heard of it. I think G has Flipped.

Melbourne primary schools within the last twenty years,

 

[suelouC]

When I was in primary school we graduated from pencils to fountain pens. These were phased out shortly afterward and I only used pens in secondary school.

Mind you I also used. Desktop inkwell and a pwn I had to dip in the ink.

 

[7777]

Never heard of a pen licence. My wife is from NSW and I did my schooling in Qld neither of us have heard of this. We had slate and chalk, then ink pots along with pencils, then the Biro came into schools.

Melbourne primary schools within the last twenty years,

 

[7777]

WTF is this woman going on about, A PENCIL LICENSE!! NEVER HEARD OF IT. Chalk, Pencils, Ink Fountains & Nibs, Fountain Pens & BIQ Biro's.

Dear member Big Buzz, thankyou for your post. But why start your statement with "wtf never heard of it". Mmm intetesting way to describe something that one knows nothing about. In Melbourne primary schools, within the last twenty years, pen licence were introduced to encourage students to write neatly with correct spelling. The award of a pen licence certificate gave students confidence to achieve a title of licence, like their parents who have a licence, but difference being, parents licence is for driving a car. There are many innovative ways to encourage students to do their best, and what better way than to issue them with a pen licence when they do their best at writing. Wishing you a pleasant evening.