Class lists – who your child will be with, and the teacher they will have for the following year, are a popular topic of conversation at this time of the year, as term four is well and truly underway and these decisions are being made.
The decision of class allocation is usually made by the school; often the teachers and other staff who have taught your child this year, and the teachers from the following year level – who will teach them the next year – will decide your child’s classmates and who will be their primary teacher.
For some kids (and some parents) this can be an anxiety fuelled process. The idea of change can make many children feel uncomfortable, the knowledge that they will not have their best friends and the teacher they have grown familiar with can create a sense of insecurity, worry, or anxiety. For some parents, the loss of control about the environment their child will spend the majority of their time in can also create the same feelings within them, especially if they have strong feelings about their potential teacher or classmates.
So, the question is, as a parent do you interfere with the usual process of class selection? Do you request a particular teacher or other students for your child to be with (or not to be with) the following year?
Dr Judith Locke, a clinical psychologist, former teacher and author of parenting book, The Bonsai Child, says a firm no. Class placements should be made by the school and not influenced by parents.
“There is an emphasis on making children happy, where immediate feelings are prioritised over long time gain,” Dr Locke says.
Top Comments
It seems to make sense.
My Mum just said "you'll make more friends, now chop those carrots" - no drama there.
Parents directly influence how their kids react. If Mum had reacted with tears and crying and protests, I probably would have freaked out at moving to a new class.
We've had an excellent relationship with our kids' primary school and they've been happy to listen to our input about how our child has done in the previous year with the class they've been in and take that into account for the following year. It's not about making demands: it's about being interested in our kids' education and engaging with the school and their teachers and giving them feedback about how our kids are doing. The school's not omniscient, and would dearly love parents to work with them, rather than being completely hands off or - even worse - actively working against them with regard to their children's behaviour and/or attitude.