Schools ban children making best friends

From the thesun.co.uk (Mar. 27):

TEACHERS are banning school kids from having best pals — so they don't get upset by fall-outs.

Instead, the primary pupils are being encouraged to play in large groups.

Educational psychologist Gaynor Sbuttoni said the policy has been used at schools in Kingston, South West London, and Surrey.

She added: "I have noticed that teachers tell children they shouldn't have a best friend and that everyone should play together.

"They are doing it because they want to save the child the pain of splitting up from their best friend. But it is natural for some children to want a best friend. If they break up, they have to feel the pain because they're learning to deal with it." [read more]

Talk about a bunch of collectivist crap. I hope this stupid policy doesn’t come to America. This self-esteem movement has gotten way out of control.

So, the teachers are afraid the kiddies will break up with their best friends. Guess what. It’s called life. They might experience break ups later on in life like divorce, etc. You can’t protect them from social upsets. The teachers could tell a kid who broke up with their best friend they will find other friends and the pain will eventually go away. Their life isn’t over because they had a fall out.

Who’s to say if friends break up they won’t get back together again? These are kids after all. They don’t hold grudges like adults do.

This is like schools not keeping score during a game because it might hurt the loser’s feelings. You know the kids are silently keeping score.