I met my high school best friend in the 6th grade. She was part of the "popular" group ever since 4th grade, and that group picked me as the scapegoat of the class and teased me mercilessly from 4th thru the 6th grade (we were a self contained Gifted/Talented class, so we just changed teachers together each year). Well, things were absolutely awful, that group sat together at a table (gifted kids don't get desks, we get tables!!!
), and were really exclusive and mean. I guess the teacher had enough of it, and felt really bad for me. So she created assigned seating one day, and sat me and Cindy right across from each other. It was like instant friendship. . .I still don't know how it happened. I didn't become "popular", and she "fell a couple of notches", but the group power was broken, and things got so much better.
Thank God for the teacher with the insight!!!!!! (Her name is Mrs. Mahan)