You wait to receive the postcard in the mail to find out who your child’s teacher will be in the coming year. Is it that guy down the hall that you think yells too much? Or is it the woman who is known to give boat loads of homework and never lets parents come in the classroom? Perhaps it’s the teacher who supposedly never teaches math?

Bugging your child’s principal to change your class assignment is probably not going to work. Here’s why.

Schools work hard to get the right mix of children in each class--a balance of loud and quiet kids, active and sedate kids, students who struggle with their behavior and those who demonstrate composure and self-control. Some students do better with a strict teacher while others find freedom inspiring, bringing out their best.

The ideal is to have a mix of strengths, abilities and personalities that create a classroom where students can learn from each other while also being in tune with the teacher’s teaching style. You might think it’s a random group, thrown together the day before school begins but each class, when done thoughtfully, is a delicate balance of children.

One child removed and the equilibrium can be thrown off. And it doesn’t always work. Trust me, some of my classes gelled together perfectly while others have rolled though the year like a square wheel.

We live in a democracy, but when it comes to choosing a teacher for your child, you may discover that you don’t have a choice.