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It sounds like a good idea as long as the child is open to it. Some children may not like the idea of being forced to speak to someone or befriend them. At such a time, communication helps.

For me, there is nothing wrong with it. The teacher did that to help the student bond and perhaps, be friends. Again, apparently, it will help new students like Mary Grace quickly acclimatize to the new environment.

Assigning a student to a new kid would be very helpful for the new student as then they have someone to rely on for help when it comes to adjusting to the school. Whether the two students form a friendship is totally up to them and how well they get along.

A child should be allowed to enter into relationships with other children. However, assigning them a 'friend of the week' is a good idea if they don't show progress! Kudos to the teacher for thinking of this idea!

I think this can work, but it depends on the "friend of the week." You have to be lucky enough to find someone you can get along with, otherwise it can become a curse. For this reason, perhaps it is best not to interfere. There is too much responsibility.

Growing up, forced friendships were not a real thing. In fact, I was surprised when the teacher assigned Mary Grace a potential friend I was curious to know if It'd work.

Smrithi Arun wrote: ↑13 May 2023, 13:06 It sounds like a good idea as long as the child is open to it. Some children may not like the idea of being forced to speak to someone or befriend them. At such a time, communication helps.

I agree it helps with communication. Interacting with one person is not the same as conversing with a group of people. You have a fair share of being confident when interacting one-on-one with a single person. I think it was a good idea.

Savina V wrote: ↑19 May 2023, 06:16 I think this can work, but it depends on the "friend of the week." You have to be lucky enough to find someone you can get along with, otherwise it can become a curse. For this reason, perhaps it is best not to interfere. There is too much responsibility.

I know right! Imagine getting a bully as the "friend of the week." This ruins your morale to study, interact, and play with new people. Being a new student can be quite problematic.

Brenda Creech wrote: ↑18 May 2023, 18:00 A child should be allowed to enter into relationships with other children. However, assigning them a 'friend of the week' is a good idea if they don't show progress! Kudos to the teacher for thinking of this idea!

You have to be really lucky to have the "friend of the week" as a kind and genuine person. Otherwise, imagine having communication issues and then landing a bully as the "friend of the week."

Abu_Aisha1 wrote: ↑17 May 2023, 00:12 For me, there is nothing wrong with it. The teacher did that to help the student bond and perhaps, be friends. Again, apparently, it will help new students like Mary Grace quickly acclimatize to the new environment.

True, being assigned a friend may help a new student become acquainted with unfamiliar surroundings. Sounds reasonable that the teacher took such an initiative.

I thought it was a brilliant idea to help Donny. It wasn’t clear how old he was, but he was younger than Mary Grace, who was in the 5th grade, and I don’t think younger kids understand the various levels of friendship. Donny’s teacher seemed to be in tune with what the students in her classroom needed, and it certainly made Donny happy. Interestingly, Donny’s closest friends ended up being older kids that shared his interests, not any of the Friends of the Week.

Mary Grace’s teacher was more subtle in how she chose the person to “help Mary Grace find her way around and get settled.” She had a hunch that Penelope and Mary Grace had some things in common, and the girls gradually became friends: they both seemed to open up because of this pairing, and it did not feel rushed or forced.

Starting out in a new school is something that is not so easy and I believe that this was really necessary and teachers should do this to give newbies a quick start in there new environment.

I think that when a child enters a new school, they will have difficulty adjusting to the new surroundings. So assigning a friend would really help the kids. So I think what the teacher did was right.

Sometimes, it's hard to go up to other kids and ask them to be your friend when you are in a new setting. A slight help from the teacher is not that bad in this situation. The child may not become friends instantly but at least it will help open up to others.

I think what Mary Grace's teacher did was okay. It's alright to give a small nudge in the right direction, but major interference will mostly cause undesirable outcomes. Children should find friends with whom they feel comfortable and who are compatible with their character. This sharpens their social skills.