The "better to have loved and lost" rationale really doesn't apply to attempts to execute pair work and group work activities correctly. There is a lot of other very meaningful work that you can do with the students. Do pair work only if you think it's likely to succeed.
Since 2003, PBS has followed children from different countries as part of the documentary series "Time for School." In this fourth installment, hear the story of Ken Higashiguchi from Nara, Japan, where the school hours are long and the expectations are high. Check out this video...