Is jealousy permissable when it comes to studying?

In my experience, those whose grades are not as good tend to think that the straight A students are naturally smarter and that it comes easily to them. There may be times when that's true, but most of the time the straight A student is getting those grades because they are putting in the effort and studying harder and doing whatever they have to do to get the A. So unless they start to realize that it's hard work, the jealousy will remain just that. They will feel it's unattainable for them so they'll just resent the "smart" ones.

This depends on the individual concerned as to whether it is jealousy or not or whether it is just competition. I am never jeasous of people when i am studying, but i do like to keep up with them if i can and i try to say to my own kids that they must do the same but i tell them always that they have done their best and i think that a child should be rewarded by the family even if in the classroom situation they have not reached the top. If a child has done the best they can at the particular thing, then it should alo be up to the family to reward and praise them not just up to the sdhool, this way the child will not feel left out and this way also allows the child to strive harder.

It is a healthy competion, such competion should not be considred as jealousy at all. I feel you are right and your friend is wrong in his views.

Well a bit of friendly competition is always good to add more fun and spice in education but however one has to be carefull as there are many cases when that friendly competition turns into violence and that can have a big negative affect on the lives of students.