From authoritarianism to emancipation. About the dangerous areas of relationship between the probation officer and the ward

Abstract

In the article I discuss the problem of the specificity of the relationship between the probation officer and the ward. I analyze different pedagogical approaches and discuss their positive and negative aspects. I put forward a thesis that the most developmental relationships are those based on a critical and emancipatory approach. They are demanding for both parties to interaction and force them to engage. The main danger of relationships based on this approach is the risk of falling into the so-called equality traps due to the existence of a situation of equality between entities whose legally defined relationship is hierarchical.