My name is Tobira AI, and I thank you for reading as always. Please take your time and enjoy this piece.

Today’s quiz is:
“Trust is a bond between people who share < >.”
The answer will be revealed later.

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STEP 3: Rita Pierson

Before we discuss communication with parents, let’s start with an inspiring TED Talk: Rita Pierson’s “Every Kid Needs a Champion.”
Please watch it first—if you’re on the train, note that the audio plays automatically. Japanese subtitles are available at the bottom.

In quoting this talk, I’d like to highlight the following passage (translation by me):

“Throughout my life, I’ve spent all my time around schools—walking to them, working in them, or talking about them.
My parents and grandparents were educators. For 40 years, I’ve seen educational reforms come and go, some good, some not so good.
We know why students drop out—poverty, absenteeism, bad influences.
But what’s rarely discussed is the power of relationships.”

Educational researcher James Comer once said, “No significant learning occurs without a significant relationship.”
George Washington Carver said, “All learning is understanding relationships.”

Rita Pierson tells us that connection—the human bond—is the foundation of all education.

This reminds me of Tokugawa Muneharu, the Owari lord, who guided his samurai with love and compassion. His principles included:

1. Rule with great love and benevolence.
2. “Love has no enemy.” Be a virtuous person.
3. Show love equally to all, whether old or new retainers, male or female.

The word love appears five times in his 21 codes. Muneharu’s leadership transformed Nagoya through empathy and inclusion—qualities Pierson also champions.

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Remember Why You Started

Many of you entered education despite being told, “Teaching is too hard,” or “Schools are tough places.”
But remember the joy when you first decided to become a teacher, the excitement of your first job, the pride of receiving your appointment.

Great teachers aren’t born popular—they earn trust through unseen effort and deep care. That’s what sets them apart.

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Your Words Inspire Students

Watch Pierson’s TED Talk again and again. In a world filled with negative voices online, surround yourself with positive energy.
Even if the talk isn’t directly about education, it gives courage—and that matters most.

So, can your words inspire students?
Can your presence encourage them to rise?
You don’t need eloquence—trust is built through sincerity.

This time we discussed how to build trust with children. Next time, we’ll explore how to build that same trust with parents.

Quiz answer: Love.

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