Trust and Hair on Fire

I'm reading this book right now, called "Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire." While the whole thing is interesting, I was very struck by a point the author makes about Trust.

Rafe Esquith is the teacher, and he talks at length about how important it is to establish trust in the classroom in order for kids to learn. Otherwise they just spend their time "gaming the system," trying not to get in trouble or to pull one over on the teacher or the other students - or on the assignment. He believes that the relationships inside the class must never be adversarial, so he goes to great lengths to establish trust.

Drawing is a risk. You take part of yourself, or your thoughts, or your ablities with a pencil, and you put them out there where they can be seen. Now, you may or may not show your drawing to anyone, that is your choice. But it is still a risk, even showing it to yourself. By drawing you are opening up a channel of communication (to use a geeky Star Trek reference) that is totally unique. That's a risk.

You risk disappointment, being made fun of, frustration, or even finding out something scary about yourself. Putting stuff out there where it can be seen is a risk.

So, trust is really important if you are going to draw. You must trust yourself to use the pencil and paper, and trust yourself not to attack whatever you put down. If you draw with others, you have to trust them not to ridicule your work or to destroy it (I actually had one student crumple up another student's drawing and throw it away once -- it took me ten minutes to get the victim to lift his teary face back up out of his shirt).

So next time you draw, with yourself or with others, remember that trust is part of the equation and be sure that it exists with you and with those around you. Especially trust yourself.