Several schools in UK issue 'best friends ban'

Teachers in England are banning school children from keeping best friends, instead encouraging the youngsters to play in large groups, The Sun reported.

The controversial policy was implemented in certain schools with the idea of avoiding pain for children who experience break-ups with a close pal, according to the newspaper.

"I have noticed that teachers tell children they shouldn’t have a best friend and that everyone should play together," U.K.-based psychologist Gaynor Sbuttoni told the newspaper.

"They are doing it because they want to save the child the pain of splitting up from their best friend. But it is natural for some children to want a best friend. If they break up, they have to feel the pain because they're learning to deal with it."

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