Family Friendly Countries.

[iguana_tonante]

I think, and I've thought this before, that a lot of the world doesn't really have a good grasp on just how large the US is.

I think, and I've thought this before, that a lot of the US doesn't really have a good grasp on just how large the world is.

I grasp that, too. I just think some people view the US as one big country where everything is the same. People unfamiliar with the states may not realize just how different things can be from one state to another, even though they're technically in the same country.

No, that's exactly the point.

A lot of countries have federal subdivisions, with different laws, customs, and traditions (from the UK to Brazil, Russia, India, etc). Hell, some even have different official languages (Canada, Belgium: just two examples). Even nominally unitary nations like France or China have wildly different communities living in the same country. The US is not alone, or even peculiar, in this: it's not the largest, the most populous, or even the most diverse federal country in the world.

Generally speaking, there is no more difference between California and Ohio than between Punjab and Kerala, Bavaria and Brandenburg, Sicily and Trentino.

That's the point I was trying to make.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

As an American, I think nothing of the legal drinking age being 21...until I see a map and realize that pretty much the rest of the world has it set at 18.

Another thing that was interesting to me:

To be a primary school teacher in the United States, you must have a bachelors degree.
To be a primary school teacher in a lot of other countries, you must have a bachelors degree PLUS specialized teacher training.

What does "specialized teacher training" mean, exactly? US teachers have to have bachelors degrees in Education. The whole point of their bachelors degree is to learn how to be teachers; what other kind of specialized training is required?

I don't think they have to have a Bachelor's in Education. Often, the bachelor's degree in the specific field would be sufficient (for example, a history teacher doesn't have to be a history education major, they can just have a BA in history).

Anyway, interesting map. I suspect it's not entirely accurate (for example, I think some states have paid leave for mothers even if it's not at the national level. Also, how does the UK have constitutional protections?).

And we apparently have no laws in place banning employment discrimination based on ethnicity. Right.

I think the category there was "constitutional" protection, which is accurate - provided you're talking about private employment. The Constitution (with a few exceptions) only prevents the government from doing certain things.

 

[RoJoHen]

That's the point I was trying to make.

I concede your point. Again, the entirety of my international experience is from talking to people on the TrekBBS. It's just something that I have noticed from people outside the US that they treat us as if every state is exactly the same, though I suppose it's very possible that we do the exact same thing to other countries.

I don't think they have to have a Bachelor's in Education. Often, the bachelor's degree in the specific field would be sufficient (for example, a history teacher doesn't have to be a history education major, they can just have a BA in history).

Well, this could very well be another thing that varies from state to state. In my state, I'm pretty sure you have to have a BA in Education to be allowed to teach. When I was going to college, everyone seeking an education degree had to double major in something else if they wanted to teach a specific subject. Otherwise anybody with any random bachelors degree could apply for a teaching job, and that's just not how it works.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Maybe Illinois is different. Here, anyone with a random bachelor's degree very much could apply for a teaching job. Quite often, they won't get it, but that depends on what the individual school is looking for. I know someone who was a bio chem major who now teaches high school science and I don't think had any education classes (certainly didn't major in education).

 

[iguana_tonante]

That's the point I was trying to make.

I concede your point. Again, the entirety of my international experience is from talking to people on the TrekBBS.

You are young, healthy, unattached. Go abroad for a while! Working holidays are great and you won't dig into your savings too much. You'll never regret it.

It's just something that I have noticed from people outside the US that they treat us as if every state is exactly the same, though I suppose it's very possible that we do the exact same thing to other countries.

I think it's something we are all guilty of. It's a matter of fractal perspective: if you are outside, things look uniform and coherent, but if you are in the inside, you see diversity and complexity.

 

[JoeZhang]

I used to like when the UK was desperately unfriendly to children in many areas* - it was a sad day when kids were allowed in pubs, what was wrong with sitting outside in the cold with a bottle of pop?

fuck no, your brat can't colour in my racing post


* being more serious, we are very family unfriendly when it comes to children compared to the rest of Europe.

 

[RoJoHen]

You are young, healthy, unattached. Go abroad for a while! Working holidays are great and you won't dig into your savings too much. You'll never regret it.

So much easier said than done. I'm lucky if I can get two days off in a row, let alone a vacation overseas.

Plus someone would need to watch my cat.

 

[iguana_tonante]

Bring the cat with you. Instant conversation starter, keeps you warm in the cold weather, and can hunt something for you in case you are short on food money.

 

[RoJoHen]

The last time I tried to get my cat into her carrier, it required three people. She does not travel well.

 

[scotpens]

. . . being more serious, we are very family unfriendly when it comes to children compared to the rest of Europe.

That's one of the things I like about Britain.

(I hate kids.)

 

[Starkers]

I used to like when the UK was desperately unfriendly to children in many areas* - it was a sad day when kids were allowed in pubs, what was wrong with sitting outside in the cold with a bottle of pop?

fuck no, your brat can't colour in my racing post


* being more serious, we are very family unfriendly when it comes to children compared to the rest of Europe.

A bottle of pop and a bag of crisps surely!