I don’t want that child to go to class with my son: the peer effect influences educational success

After the summer break, the class chats of many kids – and their families if they are not old enough to have a mobile phone – have been buzzing this week. The educational centers opened their doors on Monday, and a good part has communicated the composition of the classes. Some parents, however, are expressing concerns about the peers their children will be sharing the classroom with, fearing the impact of certain classmates on their child’s academic path. This phenomenon, known as the ‘peer effect,’ is a subject of worry, prejudice, and scientific study.