Relations Program Conducted by Teacher Training Students in an Elementary School

An experimental human relations program was conducted in which sophomore teacher trainees were stimulated to develop a one-to-one relationship with an elementary school child. The basic objective was to enhance the development of acceptance of self. acceptance of others. and acceptance by others in both the trainees and the children. It was theorized that human relations instruction plus counseling would result in greater attitudinal change than would result from instruction only. or no instruction. There were four treatment conditions: (1) previous human relations training. (2) lecture and small group discussion in each of 10 areas of human relations principles. (3) individual and group counseling. (4) development of a relationship with a child randomly matched with the trainee. Four instruments were administered to trainees and four to students to measure self-concept. interpersonal values. attitudes. and personality. Although the analysis of posttest data did not produce statistically significant results. the study demonstrated that positive attitudinal and behavioral change can be transmitted from instructor to student to child through the approach utilized. (Included are the nonstandard instruments used