I will pipe in and say "school/teacher". This happened with DD starting late March of last year (winding down 2nd grade) because at the portfolio review (parent teacher conference w/ kid) the teacher went on and on about how hard 3rd grade would be, increase in responsibility expected, would she be ready...
Then in first weeks of 3rd grade, teacher said they wouldn't pass to 4th if they didn't do well on the state assessments, principal came around to classes to say the same thing.
the pressure the teachers etc. feel passes on to the kids even if the teachers are careful. The schools are placed under ranking stresses and all kids can feel it, the more sensitive ones all the more.
They later back-stepped when parents complained, but it was already in the kids' heads.
