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In this scenario switching is not just getting a different teacher, but an entirely new set of classmates as well, meaning the child is willingly walking away f

In this scenario switching is not just getting a different teacher, but an entirely new set of classmates as well, meaning the child is willingly walking away from all their friends and acquaintances they've made possibly over years. I suspect the vast majority of students will choose to stay with the current teacher, even if a very poor fit for them, because of that.

llbeansandrice 4y ago
I agree, people struggle to leave jobs with horrible bosses due to other aspects that aren't as big as your friend group and support structure as a child. This sounds awful for those kids. I suppose there's an argument to be made about "preparing for the 'real world'" but still.
WaitWaitWha 4y ago
> In this scenario switching is not just getting a different teacher, but an entirely new set of classmates as well, meaning the child is willingly walking away from all their friends and acquaintances they've made possibly over years. Do they (correct me if I am wrong)? What I have seen in the USA, children indeed would switch classes, but relationships are continued on, especially middle and high schools where free time and extra curricular activities are often in shared space and time across classes.
- kbenson 4y ago
  It's a matter of perception, not reality. They no longer will see them all day like they are used to, and instead just at specific times. To someone such as myself that didn't share a lot of classes with my good friends that doesn't seem like a big deal. To someone that may have already spent a couple years with these people all day long? That is likely a very scary thing to consider at a young age.
- vidarh 4y ago
  My sons school (in the UK) intentionally mixed up classes every year through primary school, and I was sceptical at first but it seemed to work quite well, in that they were able to get people away from kids they didn't do well alongside. Obviously mixing like that does not work if you want to keep the kids with the same teacher.

llbeansandrice 4y ago

I agree, people struggle to leave jobs with horrible bosses due to other aspects that aren't as big as your friend group and support structure as a child. This sounds awful for those kids. I suppose there's an argument to be made about "preparing for the 'real world'" but still.

WaitWaitWha 4y ago

> In this scenario switching is not just getting a different teacher, but an entirely new set of classmates as well, meaning the child is willingly walking away from all their friends and acquaintances they've made possibly over years. Do they (correct me if I am wrong)? What I have seen in the USA, children indeed would switch classes, but relationships are continued on, especially middle and high schools where free time and extra curricular activities are often in shared space and time across classes.

kbenson 4y ago
It's a matter of perception, not reality. They no longer will see them all day like they are used to, and instead just at specific times. To someone such as myself that didn't share a lot of classes with my good friends that doesn't seem like a big deal. To someone that may have already spent a couple years with these people all day long? That is likely a very scary thing to consider at a young age.
vidarh 4y ago
My sons school (in the UK) intentionally mixed up classes every year through primary school, and I was sceptical at first but it seemed to work quite well, in that they were able to get people away from kids they didn't do well alongside. Obviously mixing like that does not work if you want to keep the kids with the same teacher.