Having the people with the real power (teachers and administration) on your side can act as a massive shield against peer harassment.
There are two distinct types of "pets." The first is the competent leader who is genuinely engaged and high-achieving. The second is the compliant flatterer who actively seeks favor through excessive helpfulness and rule-following. Teacher's Pet
Research shows that humans make first impressions in a fraction of a second. Teachers, being human, are susceptible to implicit biases based on a student's enthusiasm or compliance. Having the people with the real power (teachers