Embracing classroom connections
Sitting with friends in class is an important aspect of free will while learning but sometimes it causes distractions and teachers tend to take that privilege away for a certain time due to efficiency, some even assign seats for this purpose. Years of this debate has caused a discussion amongst peers and staff of Deerfield Beach High School.
It is no shock that people will gravitate towards others they know in social settings, so it makes sense for it to occur in school too. While it is possible to cope with new and intimidating settings alone, being near familiar people can make it less scary. Sitting near a friend can make the experience of learning a lot easier if the student knows how to behave while next to a friend; which happens to be the main concern for teachers.
“It depends on the kids,” said DBHS teacher Adam Radecki. “Some students can handle sitting next to a friend without causing problems while others cannot.”
Teachers worry that allowing students to sit together will open the door to conversation and interruptions; which is a valid situation that is witnessed. Nevertheless, students aren’t all reckless, and with some discipline, ones who take their education seriously will listen. Studies have displayed that if a student is shown respect and allowed to have a say in how the class works, it will cause them to be more attentive and want to learn more. When students feel respected and trusted, they perform better.
“I think once a student understands the rules and can focus on the lesson, students can sit with their friends,” said DBHS teacher Sarah Peterson. “But to keep focus it is typically easier on the teacher and students learning to keep the urge of talking out of reach.”
While sitting with friends can have many benefits, it is crucial to consider that it ultimately depends on the ability of the students to make good choices, even when influenced by their friends. Much like anything else, sitting with friends has both pros and cons and depends on factors such as the maturity and responsibility of the students. It is up to the teacher to decide how their students will be seated, as they know how to best deal with the students in their classroom and their well-being.
Between sitting together or sitting in alphabetical order, seating has a significant effect on how the classroom will work. It depends on the students in the class and what the final objective of the said class is.
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