Is there anything wrong about being able to request or non-request teachers?

What if you spoke privately with the current teacher and also the principal? In many schools (I teach as do many of my friends) there are specific procedures for assigning classes. We receive a form asking us to describe our own child and specific info we want them to consider when placing our children. I have done both, filled out the form and also spoken to the principal about my concerns. Be positive and keep the focus on your child, not on the teacher you don't want.

What I said- "My child has a speech difficulty and I would prefer teacher x due to her more formal speech patterns. While my child would have fun and learn much with teacher z, I feel her casual, slang speech may not be as helpful in modeling.

I don't believe there is anything wrong with requesting, but I think it's entirely fair of the school to say they can't accommodate that request. In schools below the college level classes are always more rigidly defined (someone can opt out of your class altogether, but no one can opt out of sixth grade or a junior high math class), and administrators have to work within that. Classes have to be carefully balanced, and all kids have to receive fair treatment, not just those with parents who actively lobby for certain teachers (consider how you feel about the parents who have "an understanding" with the principal, which I also think is unfair). In high school most kids are very limited, since often only one teacher will teach a subject, or will teach it at the desired level. I suffered through bad teachers in between my good ones, and I am doing just fine. It will give you a chance to teach your kids to motivate themselves and work independently, if the teacher is incompetent, or to work with people of different personality types, if they are simply incompatible. Unless it becomes a real problem (bullying or unfairness from the teacher, etc.), try to use this as a beneficial learning experience.

You should have the right to request your child be with a specific teacher or not with a specific teacher but the school also may have a rule that they are not allowed to take parents requests. Check with your childs current teacher and see if they are able to request a specific teacher for your child for the next school year. You also have the option to request that your child be moved to another teacher if you have problems with your childs current teacher. Check with your school administration as the procedures they have in place to this situation.

If you want to request anything in life you can! It is just a request. My younger daughter would like the same teacher her sister had. I know her, love her, and would love for my second daughter to have the same experience. Why not? If you can not grant all requests take them as a first come!