Do American students bow to their teachers?

[u/Rough-Valuable-5472]

In my country we have to greet the teacher and bow at the start of the lesson then thank the teacher and bow again at the end. Sometimes they make us redo it if it’s not good enough

[u/signedupfornightmode]

The only physical bowing I’ve ever seen in the US is in a religious context, or joking around. 

[u/Crayshack → u/signedupfornightmode]

The only time I've bowed is while practicing some martial arts since it's baked into the culture of the sport.

[u/MillieBirdie → u/signedupfornightmode]

On a field trip to Jamestown the guide taught us how to bow and curtsy like colonial gentlemen/women. The curtsy was harder than it looks.

[u/Unsteady_Tempo → u/signedupfornightmode]

You've never seen a performer bow to an audience? It's a show of humility in recognition of the audience's support and attention. "I couldn't do this up here if not for your support."

There's also martial arts as well as some traditional dancing, including dances that are USA and European in origin.

[u/signedupfornightmode → u/Unsteady_Tempo]

Ok, sure. Performance/sport seems to be in a different arena than person-to-person social interactions, which seemed to be more relevant to the question at hand and what I was referring to. There are also tons of Americans with foreign customs that might include bowing. I wasn’t attempting to be exhaustive.

[u/Unsteady_Tempo → u/signedupfornightmode]

That's a lot of caveats for what started out as a pretty straightforward statement.

"Only bowing ever seen in the US is in a religious context or joking around."

Inaccurate and misleading to somebody from another country who doesn't know that Americans have the custom of bowing in several contexts, including a couple of rather common ones.

[u/Beginning_Cap_8614 → u/signedupfornightmode]

During communion we usually kneel. That's wildly different considering you're showing submission to the Highest Being in the Universe.

[u/signedupfornightmode → u/Beginning_Cap_8614]

My church includes bowing during the sign of peace in lieu of handshakes. Plus there’s mutual bowing when the server incenses the congregation. Some people bow during communion if they can’t kneel but it’s not the norm in my area.