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.

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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?

 

[7777]

what a load of shit.

Dear member Jest, thankyou for your post. Are you for real, what kind of opinion is this. What are you referring to, when you make this remark, when you have no idea of the purpose of a pen licence that is awarded to hard working students. Wishing you a pleasant evening.

 

[7777]

Well said.

 

[KessaB]

I received my pen licence using a nib and ink pen. Only had one blot.

 

[relljube]

Grew up in NSW and never heard of it. If it was in the past 20 years in Vic that is why G-Flip is familiar with it.

 

[7777]

Grew up in NSW and never heard of it. If it was in the past 20 years in Vic that is why G-Flip is familiar with it.

Dear member Relljube, thankyou for your. Yes I also did not have this in my school year days. But they began to do this in a Melbourne primary school about twenty years ago. By awarding students with a pen licence, students are encouraged to do their best at writing neat with correct spelling. Wishing you a pleasant evening.

 

[DLHM]

Dear member Relljube, thankyou for your. Yes I also did not have this in my school year days. But they began to do this in a Melbourne primary school about twenty years ago. By awarding students with a pen licence, students are encouraged to do their best at writing neat with correct spelling. Wishing you a pleasant evening.

I didn’t go to school in Australia, but my four kids all went to school in WA.

They all upgraded to a pen licence from pencil. I’d never heard of such a thing, but it’s not such a bad idea. Don’t understand all the fuss.

 

[7777]

Well said.

 

[Vinylted]

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.

Ahhh you were a doctor I gather...

 

[Vinylted]

I was in primary school from 1939 to 1946 in Victoria and have never heard of the so called licence nor did my three children who were in primary school in the 60's.

 

[7777]

I was in primary school from 1939 to 1946 in Victoria and have never heard of the so called licence nor did my three cwouhildren who were in primary school in the 60's.

Dear member Vinylted, thankyou for your post. In the early years, children most probably used slate and chalk to write with at school. As the years progressed, ink pens came to be used. In Melbourne within the last twenty years, primary schools have awarded a licence pen to students who showed that they could write neatly, with their pencil and make no spelling errors. The reward that had a title of a licence, that was a big deal to the students, as it was like a licence their parents would have, but the difference being, the parents had a driver's licence. There are so many innovative and creative ways to encourage students to be confident and do their best at school, and what better way than with a pen licence, when they do their best at hand writing. Wishing you a pleasant evening.

 

[Viellarde]

I was in primary school from 1939 to 1946 in Victoria and have never heard of the so called licence nor did my three children who were in primary school in the 60's.

That's because none of you is young enough. It didn't exist in the 'olden days' when you went to school.
There are plenty of posts here explaining when it started.