<p>The principal has the right to assign seating for the lunchroom, and will be able to present plausible reasons why it is necessary. The principal cannot do is create a situation where their student is coming home in tears on a daily basis. </p>
<p>The fastest way to resolve this is to get/allow the principal to change his mind about the seating arrangement. Both parents should request a meeting to discuss how this is affecting their daughter emotionally. Give the principal a way to back out of this! Nothing makes petty bureaucrat dig in their heels than to be publicly challenged. Document the request for the meeting, “understand” why seats may be assigned, and explain the distress this is causing the daughter. Ask if the principal can re-assign her seat, - or give a reason why that would be impossible. Document everything.</p>
<p>My well behaved kids were ofter used as buffers in seating arrangements in classrooms. However when my son spoke to his teacher and said he this was not fair to him, the teacher did change the seating. </p>
<p>While I do believe the principal is a bully, the quickest solution to your goal of having your sister re-assigned is to act graciously, and ask for the principals help in resolving this distressing situation. Give the principal room for her to make a decision without being forced or backed into a corner. Really.</p>
<p>If the reasonable approach doesn’t work, then Mama Bear comes out and you can look to use other scorched earth tactics.</p>