The American Re-EDucation Association
The American
Re-EDucation
Association
Trust between a child and adult is essential, the foundation on which all other principles rest, the glue that holds teaching and learning together, the beginning point for reeducation.
Written by Mark Freado
AREA National Coordinator
President of GROWING EDGE Training Associates.
Trust is a very private matter.
Everyone needs trusted others in their life, no matter our place or position. It
is particularly important to the children with whom we work. Their lives are
characteristically riddled with rejection, failure, loss, and betrayal. Their
experience leads them to conclude that they cannot trust adults.
Whom do you trust? What had to happen for you to decide if it were safe,
particularly in matters of significance? Nick Hobbs writes that we do not really
know how one goes about the building of trust, but there are guidelines. There
are the consistency, predictability, and genuineness of the relationship. There
is the honesty of a person who is comfortable being himself and accepting you as
you are. And there is listening, really listening, to understand your
perspective; how you see things, what you think about them and how you feel
about them. There is a response that is honest and direct, but not judgmental.
There is no presumption to speak for you or to solve your problems. There are
comfort, balance, and direction.
Trust truly is the foundation on which all of the other principles rest. An
effective teacher-counselor has a natural inclination toward creating and
sustaining trusting relationships. With training, support, patience, and
commitment, we nurture that inclination. It is a very important part of the
enduring spirit of Re-ED.