Channy Meng: Building or Breaking? An Exploration of Trust in Schools

<p dir="ltr">This image illustrates how trust is built or damaged by a principal, middle leaders, or teachers in schools. The bricks represent crucial trust-building aspects such as benevolence, reliability, honesty, competence, openness, advocacy, setting directions, and problem-solving. The trees surrounding the building reflect the influence of other related aspects on trust building, including cultural aspects. Either the wall or trust can be easily damaged if it is taken for granted. It will take time and resources to repair it after the damage. Trust erosion can result from hierarchical control, ignoring the problem, poor communication, and unpleasant experiences. Trust is like the air; people only notice it when it is absent. At school, trust is essential because it promotes cooperation, collaboration, risk-taking, willingness to be open, solidarity, and school improvement. Therefore, the decision is left to principals, middle leaders, and teachers to decide whether to build or break it in their schools. </p>