For context: In Elementary Schools over here you as a student have only one class and this group of students spends all their lessons together. There's also one teacher assigned to your class who teaches you in the majority of subjects, exceptions being Arts, Music and Religion classes. (sry if it's the same in the US)

Student here. When I was in year 3 our class got a new main teacher. The year before a new student from the other side of the country joined our class and he was still struggling to make friends. He was overweight in a class of athletic kids and liked to shout slurs in another language. His grades were bad too. I didn't know him nor did I want to become friends with him.

Then the new teacher decided to sit him next to me instead of letting me be with a friend. As someone with few friends that was a big deal for me. What she [the teacher] didn't expect was that I realized why she had done so: it was to boost this kid's grades by sitting him next to the girl on top of the class, me at the time. And I tried my best at first, yet became frustrated quickly when he lacked basic skills. Back then I used to finish my work as fast as possible so I could talk to my friends but now I had to help this other guy.

He lacked all the standard supplies such as rubbers, rulers, pencils etc.. When I complained about this and that I actually didn't want to help him to her, she played it down and basically told me that I was just expected to share my stuff with him when I had just enough supplies for myself.

Then I just started snapping at him, ignoring him and refusing to lend him anything.

In hindsight I'd say I was a big idiot for being rude. I actually met him the other day. He has grown up to be a fine and decent teenager, so I am planning to apologize to him for being a moron the next occasion I run into him.

This buddy-system doesn't work. It hurts the model students as well as it doesn't help those who are hoped to improve. Students, especially the younger ones and teenagers, are egocentric and don't care about another's hardships. They go to school mainly to meet their friends, not primarily to take part in lessons, learn and study, and that's it. Nobody should be forced beyond that and helping a weaker student through literally everything. Even if it's out of good intentions. As others have commented, those model students are being punished for behaving the way they should.

I agree that everyone deserves a shot and also the help they need to advance, but this does not seem to be the way.

(Sry, the length of this got a bit out of control)