History of Existential Pedagogy

Late 1980s – 1990s

• Wasiliki Winkelhofer (teacher at an academic secondary school (Gymnasium) in Munich) and Uwe Lau (teacher at various reform-oriented schools in Germany) began exploring ways to integrate Existential Analysis (EA) – particularly the existential dialogue – into classroom teaching. They presented their ideas at GLE congresses and published in the GLE journal (formerly Bulletin, now named Existenzanalyse).
• Karl Dienelt (born 1919) a secondary school teacher in Vienna from 1940 to 1981, with academic backgrounds in Classical Philology, Philosophy, and History, published several books starting in 1955, including:
  • Pedagogical Anthropology. A Science Theory
  • The New Thinking in Educational Science
  • From the Metatheory of Education to "Meaning"-Oriented Pedagogy
  • Education for Responsibility
• Günter Funke (October 2, 1948 – August 3, 2016), a theologian, frequently incorporated fundamental pedagogical considerations into his lectures and seminars. He focused on practical and authentic anthropology as well as phenomenology of life.
• Christoph Kolbe (born 1955), a psychotherapist and existential analyst who also studied education, frequently emphasized pedagogical topics in his lectures and seminars, particularly phenomenological and dialogical approaches. Through his training program "Teaching Authentically", he sought to strengthen teachers in their authenticity.
• Michaela Probst, a teacher and existential analyst from Graz, was the first to develop a continuing education curriculum for teachers in what was then called Existential-Analytical Pedagogy. Her focus was on enhancing teachers' qualifications and supporting their psychological knowledge of children and adolescents.

Since 2000

• Eva Maria Waibel (born 1953), a primary and secondary school teacher, psychotherapist (Existential Analysis and Logotherapy), and PhD in Educational Sciences, has taught at various universities of teacher education (Lucerne, Zug, Carinthia, Tyrol, Vorarlberg).
  • She has extensively researched the pedagogical implications of Logotherapy and Existential Analysis for education and teaching.
  • She has conducted research and published on these topics ([Link to publication list]).
  • She developed a systematic framework for Existential Pedagogy, based on principles of general education, and designed several postgraduate master's programs in Existential Pedagogy.

2012

• The GLE-International reached a consensus on the name "Existential Pedagogy."
• The term "Personal Pedagogy" had already been used in a different context, and "Existential" was deemed essential to defining the approach.

2019

• Founding of the Institute for Existential Pedagogy by Eva Maria Waibel, Thomas Happ, Andreas, and Doris Hausheer 

The Existential Pedagogy Network in Germany

Inspired and deeply convinced by Existential Pedagogy, Esther Kohl launched the first call for interested individuals in Germany in the summer of 2021 through the GLE-D newsletter. She reached out to professionals working in pedagogical fields based on Existential Analysis (EA) or influenced by their existential-analytical training. By the end of 2021, fifteen people had already joined the network—many of them had long been waiting for an opportunity to exchange ideas with like-minded professionals about their practical work.

The network members come from a wide range of professions related to working with children, adolescents, and their parents, including school education, social pedagogy, psychotherapy, the arts, medicine, and academia. What unites them is their reflection and active engagement at the intersection of psychotherapy and pedagogy, making their exchange both exciting and enriching.

The goal of this network is to spread the ideas and principles of Existential Pedagogy in Germany. It aims to make the unique educational approach of Existential Pedagogy comprehensible and accessible: As educators, we ourselves are the most essential educational tool, and we must ensure that this tool is always in tune.

The anthropological view of Logotherapy and Existential Analysis shapes our existential-pedagogical practice. Every young person is to be accompanied in discovering the potential of their person, in developing it, and in strengthening their capacity for self-formation, so that they may come to the fourfold inner consent to their life. The key question guiding our work is: "What does this child need from me right now?"

The Institute for Existential Pedagogy, founded in Austria in 2019, provides the theoretical orientation and organizational foundation for the activities of the German network. The board of the Institute, led by Eva Maria Waibel, supports us in all our undertakings.

Within the first one and a half years, the circle of network members has already grown to 23 persons. At present, communication takes place mainly through e-mails, phone calls, Zoom meetings, and occasional personal encounters of individual members. Contacts are established between members in response to specific questions and concerns, enabling us to support one another in our projects. Regular circular mails keep everyone informed about the most recent developments in Existential Pedagogy: opportunities for further training, upcoming events, and newly published books. With the expansion of online offerings, those of us in Germany have found it easier to participate in events in Austria and Switzerland. The first highlight of our involvement from Germany was our active contribution to the symposium “Self.Value.Meaning: A Pedagogical Treasure Hunt” in Feldkirch, Austria, marking the third anniversary of the Institute’s founding in June 2022, where we presented both a lecture and a workshop.

The greatest achievement of our network so far has been the preparation of the pedagogical symposium at the International GLE Congress in Berlin 2024. Competent and committed colleagues have submitted abstracts for presentations, enabling us to shape two sections with a total of six lectures from within our network. We will share insights from our diverse practical work across different age groups and institutions in various cities throughout Germany. What unites us is the fascination with the depth of human existence in Existential Analysis, which — through our values and our existential-pedagogical attitude — provides us with grounding in our personal encounters with others. To further refine and deepen our own personhood, we have woven the bond of this network: to exchange, to strengthen, and to support one another. In this shared dialogue, new ideas and impulses emerge for our pedagogical self-understanding and for our existential-pedagogical practice in everyday educational settings.

Network Coordinator – Existential Pedagogy in Germany

Esther Kohl

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History of IfEP

2017

Eva Maria Waibel and Thomas Happ initiate the idea of founding an association dedicated to the further development and dissemination of Existential Pedagogy.

2018

Additional partners join the initiative: Doris and Andreas Hausheer as well as Veronika Möltner.

April 15, 2019

First strategy retreat in Dornbirn, where the institute’s name – Selbst.Wert.Sinn (Self.Value.Meaning) – Institute for Existential Pedagogy – emerged, and where the foundational ideas and intentions where further clarified and deepened.

June 19, 2019

Submission of the association's statutes to the Dornbirn District Authority for recognition as a nonprofit organization.

June 24, 2019

Approval of the statutes, initially with Eva Maria Waibel as Chairperson and Thomas Happ as Secretary.

Summer 2019

Designing the website, developing a training program, clarifying memberships, cooperation formats, and target groups; and drafting the concept for a regular newsletter.

October 5-6, 2019

Second strategy retreat in Innsbruck with Thomas Happ, Veronika Möltner, Andreas and Doris Hausheer, Karoline Graswander-Hainz, and Eva Maria Waibel. Task distribution: Andreas Hausheer becomes Vice Chairperson. Doris Hausheer becomes Deputy Secretary.

Development of a flyer and finalization of the training program.

February 23, 2020

Third strategy retreat in Berlin, marking the start of regular educational trips to Elisabethstift. Karoline Graswander-Hainz steps down from the board due to her career-related studies. Christoph Wund joins the board as Treasurer. Development of the IfEP logo.

From March 2020

Cancellation of in-person events due to COVID-19 and transition to digital formats.

Summer/Fall 2020

Shift of activities to internal projects due to COVID-19.

Preparation of the book "Wertschätzung wirkt Wunder. Perspektiven Existenzieller Pädagogik". Creation of a brochure that opens an accessible path into the world of Existential Pedagogy by Doris and Andreas Hausheer. Revision of membership management.

October 5, 2020

Book presentation of "Wertschätzung wirkt Wunder" at the Dornbirn City Library.

Fall/Winter 2020/21

Hosting of numerous online events.

February 4, 2021

Fireside conversation with the members to reflect on and further develop the training program. Emerging idea: to offer four thematic evening sessions per year in response to the growing number of members.

March – December 2020

Five online board meetings.

January – December 2021

Eight online board meetings.

First general assembly, re-election of the board, and approval of the financial statement. As of September 2021, a new distribution of responsibilities within the board.

July 3, 2021

Fourth strategy retreat in Klaus.

Decision to include advisory board members to strengthen the team:

Kerstin Ibele Llambés

Andreas Moz

Bettina Speckle

Jasmine Vallaster

Launch of Instagram and Facebook presence.

Summer 2021

Foundation of the Existential Pedagogy Network in Germany by Esther Kohl ([Link]).

Fall 2021

Dornbirn Sparkasse Innovation Award.

October 11, 2021

First meeting of the organization team for the symposium "Selbst.Wert.Sinn – A Pedagogical Treasure Hunt".

Eight planning meetings and approximately 1,000 volunteer hours contributed.

June 24, 2022

First symposium titled "Selbst.Wert.Sinn – A Pedagogical Treasure Hunt" at Pförtnerhaus in Feldkirch with 250 participants.

September 2022

Launch of the Master’s program at PH Linz.

Highlights from our Thematic Evening Series:

• March 17, 2021 – Implementation of Existential Pedagogy
• June 9, 2021 – Parental work from an Existential Pedagogy perspective
• September 9, 2021 – Daniela Klingler: Value- and meaning-oriented pedagogy in kindergartens
• November 30, 2021 – Presentation of the brochure "Von Selbstwert und Eigensinn"
• February 7, 2022 – Help, not again! – Handling challenging behaviour with composure
• June 13, 2022 – Gunther Hessel: Wars, Crises, and Catastrophes
• September 19, 2022 – Eva Maria Waibel: Book presentation "Haltung gibt Halt"
• November 28, 2022 – Doris and Andreas Hausheer: Catch me when I’m at my best! – Working with potential

Symposium Selbst-Wert-Sinn 2022

Jugendkongress 2023

Existenzielle Themen in Kinderbüchern (nach Daniela Klingler)

ERSTE GRUNDMOTIVATION:

Paul Friester, Philippe Goossens: Heule Eule

Peter Reynolds: Ramons Atelier

Stefan Gemmel, Marie-José Sacré: Du bist richtig, wie du bist

Joanna Gaines, Julianna Swaney: Die Welt braucht dich. Genau so, wie du bist

Jane Chapman: Ich halt dich fest, mein Kleiner

Susan Verde, Peter H. Reynolds: Ich bin ein Mensch. Über die Kraft des Mitgefühls

ZWEITE GRUNDMOTIVATION:

Kathrin Schärer: Da sein – Was fühlst du?

Neele, Marta Balmaseda: Ich mag dich – einfach so!

Lorenz Pauli, Kathrin Schärer: Das Beste überhaupt – Meerschwein sein

Liz Garton Scanlon , Audrey Vernick: Fünf Minuten. Das ist ganz schön lang. Nein, ist es nicht. Doch, ist es.

Antje Damm: Alle Zeit der Welt. Moritz Verlag

Anna Schindler, Billy Bock: Ein Glas Zeit

Bettina Obrecht, Julie Völk: Dann gehe ich jetzt, sagte die Zeit

DRITTE GRUNDMOTIVATION:

Mira Lobe, Susi Weigel: Das kleine Ich bin Ich

Birgitta Sif: Frieda tanzt

Martin Fuchs, Hildegard Müller: Nein heißt Nein, sagte die Maus

Rachel Bright, Jim Field: Trau dich Koalabär

Heidi Leenen, Lisa Hänsch, Ramona Wultschner: Emma: Ohe dich wär` die Welt nur halb so schön!

Susan Verde, Peter H. Reynolds: Ich bin die Liebe. Über die Kraft der Herzlichkeit

Kim Hillyard und Silke Kleemann: Hedwig will hoch hinaus - Eine Geschichte über den Glauben an sich selbst

Philipp Waechter: ich

Karl Newson, Kate Hindley: Ich bin fast genau wie du

Susa Apenrade, Miriam Cordes: Ich bin stark, ich sag laut Nein!  So werden Kinder selbstbewusst

Frank Murphy, Carla Murphy, Kayla Harren: Ein Mädchen wie du

Frank Murphy, Kayla Harren: Ein Junge wie du

Trudy Ludwig, Patrice Barton: Der unsichtbare Junge

VIERTE GRUNDMOTIVATION/SINN:

Kobi Yamada, Mae Besom: Was macht man mit einer Chance?

Kobi Yamada, Gabriella Barouch: Vielleicht

Kobi Yamada, Mae Besom: Was macht man mit einer Idee?

Rachel Bright, Jim Field: Der Löwe in dir

Oliver Jeffers: Hier sind wir. Anleitung zum Leben auf der Erde

Susanna Isern, Ana Gomez:  Ella Piratella

STÄRKUNG DER PERSON/ENTFALTUNG DER POTENZIALITÄT:

Werner Hozwarth, Stefanie Jeschke: Ich wär so gern … dachte das Erdmännchen

Lorenz Pauli, Kathrin Schärer: Mutig, mutig

Miriam Cordes: Wir sind stark

Juli Zeh, Dunja Schnabel: Jetzt bestimme ich!

Anne Hassel/Eva Künzel: König Theodor

Susan Verde, Peter H. Reynolds: Ich bin der Anfang. Über die Kraft des Handelns

GEMEINSAMKEIT:

Lorenz Pauli, Kathirn Schärer: nur wir alle

Kerstin Schoene: Ein Haufen Freunde hält zusammen

Daniela Kunkel: Das kleine WIR

Kerstin Schoene: Ein Haufen Freunde - ganz schön stark!

Daniela Kulot: Zusammen!

Alicia Potter, Birgitta Sif: Henriettes Heim für schüchterne und ängstliche Katzen

IM DIALOG SEIN:

Heinz Janisch, Silke Leffler: Ich habe ein kleines Problem, sagte der Bär

Lena Raubbaum, Clara Frühwirth: Die Knotenlöserin

HERAUSFORDERNDES VERHALTEN:

Rachel Bright, Jim Field: Die Streithörnchen

Heinz Jarisch, Helga Bansch: Die Brücke

David McKee: Du hast angefangen – Nein du!

­­Claude Boujon, Tilde Michels: Karni und Nickel oder Der große Krach

WIEDERGUTMACHUNG:

Moritz Petz, Amélie Jackowski: Der Dachs hat heute schlechte Laune

Eulàlia Canal, Rocio Bonilla: Drei ist keiner zu viel

ERMUTIGUNG:

Peter H. Reynolds: Der Punkt (da gibt es auf Youtube auch einen Film)

Lu Fraser, Kate Hindley: Elli, die Kleinste von allen

FEHLERFREUNDLICHKEIT:

Sven Nordqvist: Schau mal, was ich kann, Petterson!

Lena Hesse: Was Besonderes

LANGEWEILE:

Rocio Bonilla: Langweilst du dich, Minimia?

Henrike Wilson: Ganz schön langweilig!

Moritz Petz, Amélie Jackowski (2021): Der Dachs hat heute Langeweile

Claude K. Dubois: Pfff …

… Trotzdem Ja zum Leben sagen, Kummer und Sorgen

Tom Percival: Sophias Sorge

Rachel Bright und Chris Chatterton: Der Sorgosaurus

Regina Schwarz, Marion Goedelt: Pechvogel und Unglücksrabe

Daniel Fehr, Raphaël Kolly: Wird schon schiefgehen, Ente!

GLÜCK

Antonie Schneider, Susanne Straßer: Herr Glück und Frau Unglück

Davide Calì, Marco Somà: Der Glücksverkäufer

Cornelia Funke, Sybille Hein: Die Glücksfee

Daniela Cianciarulo, Isabella Cianciarulo, Birgit Antoni: Opa Henry sucht das Glück

Kobi Yamada, Charles Santoso: Das Glück in dir

Julia Volmert, Elke Broska: Ein Rucksack voller Glück

Annika Klee, Stella Eich: Zwei Mädchen im Glück

Educational Videos on Existential Pedagogy

eLecture Series for Virtual PH - Existential Pedagogy

The Great Educational Mistake – How We Create Narcissists (Lecture by Helene Drexler)

Downloadable Articles

Books Worth Reading

Existential Themes in Children's Books

Videos: Presentations from the Symposium "Self-Worth-Sense" 2022 (Access credentials required)

Videos: Existential Pedagogy

Impressions from the Youth Congress 2023

Folder: What Does This Child Need from Me Now?

These folders can be ordered for free at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at +43/(0)664/3943051

Brochure: Self-Worth and Individuality

This brochure can be ordered at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at +43/(0)664/3943051. Price: 8.50 euros/piece + shipping costs.

Institut für Existenzielle Pädagogik

Schulgasse 7

6850 Dornbirn

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