Among the feedback and pointers, was information on our sons social standing in his class. The teacher mentioned that was our son was friends with a couple of kids in his class and that the three amigos hung around together. We knew about this kindergarten friendship and always thought it a good thing that our son has adapted well into school life this quickly.
However, the school had a different view. The teacher revealed that the classes would be reshuffled in the second year, and the kids would be given an opportunity to make new friends.
The next day, as I dropped my son to school, I talked about it with another parent. I dropped the subject into our daily banter about Australian politics and the weather. "So what did you think about the parent teacher meeting." "Good," he said, "but she did talk about the gang of three." He was also given the confidential information regarding the reshuffle. He was also told how in the second year, new alliances will be forged, diplomatically, through new class groupings.
Since school prepares one for life, I wondered if familiarity and cliques were a bad thing in adult life. Even as adults we seek comfort in familiarity. To most, going into a room to meet and greet strangers, is slightly less daunting than scuba diving with sharks. However, in adulthood social life comes with lot more emotions.
For my son, the transition from childcare to school was quick and easy. He no longer talks about the friends he had last year when he was at childcare. Perhaps it was just as easy for the next years, as threads within his social fabric are still to strengthen.
Until then we hope that the social engineering within the educational sector has progressed, and it is easier today to churn out well balanced individuals than when it was a few years back, when gangs ruled the kindergartens.
