Principal's Report

Most people in Western countries can believe in democracy without believing too much in politicians. It’s the idea people trust; not the men and women elected to do its work… Most politicians find that hard to accept, probably because they forget they’re only part of the system – the voters have a bit to do with it as well – and start to think that they are the system… Voters have always differentiated between their political institutions and their politicians. A good thing, too. It’s risky enough to pick out a couple of hundred people to run the country; it would be crazy to give them real trust as well. Better to be watchful, suspicious, mistrustful…

(Ken Edwards)

Fear not. I am not about to launch into a diatribe about politicians. Probably because I have a great deal of sympathy and a fair amount of respect for politicians as a group – and a tremendous regard for some of their number in particular – even if like everyone else I have my preferences and prejudices.

I am intrigued, though, by Ken Edwards’ suggestion that we ought to be mistrustful and suspicious of politicians. If asked for an immediate reaction, I suspect many people would agree with him. 

Conversely, most of us would agree that a life without trust isn’t worth much. You cannot really love someone in an enduring way without trust. Suspicion and jealousy will kill that love as effectively as betrayal.

Trust is also at the heart of everything that is good in life – the smile of a baby, the hand of a child in yours, friendship, a walk in the park, an open door with the breeze wafting through… 

So important is it, that we often worry a good deal when it is threatened. We worry even more when, in a relationship, trust is lost altogether. Sadly for some, that worry evolves into a lingering cynicism with threatens to banish trust altogether. That is a great pity, because trust isn’t such a fragile flower. It is a robust, enduring quality, capable of sustaining a few knocks here and there or being misplaced now and again. 

From another perspective, of course, Edwards’ comments are merely an illustration of the persistent tension between what we see as a quality essential to positive, hopeful living - the notion of trust - and the realities of life. Parents know that tension all too well. We don’t want to damage a child’s optimism and innocence – but we tell them not to talk to strangers. Open doors are wonderful – but we would like the furniture to still be there when we come home at night.

Likewise, a betrayal of trust by someone personally close to us should not result in our determining not to trust anyone again. We should know that people and institutions are flawed. Trust, though, is not.

I am inclined, therefore, to reject Edwards’ advice. Trust is a foundational idea upon which all good relationships – our intimate ones, our MFG ones and our civic ones – are dependent. It won’t do us any harm if in both of these realms we bestow it generously.

Michelle Crofts

Principal Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College