Curative education, democracy, and social responsibility

The new educational series is conceptually based on the central ideas of key figures in curative education who are formative for the International Archive for Curative Education in Trebnitz.

They illustrate that curative education has always also carried a social responsibility and that its fundamental attitude contains essential elements for acting as a bridge-builder and translating democratic values into practice.

Guiding principles of the educational series

“Heilpädagogik (…) does not only have a subject of research, but also a mandate. This mandate is – in practice and theory – the question of what it means to be human.”
(Emil E. Kobi, 1972)

“This requires an ethical attitude that brings acceptance and respect to every human being and stands up for their inalienable right to life, education, and participation. Following this claim, we are convinced that curative education as a social and applied science must always remain aware of its history in current discourses.”
(Wolfgang van Gulijk, 2018)

“The role of curative education as a bridge-builder (…) is more relevant today than ever. (…) Through professional curative education, democratic values are further developed, strengthened, and become building blocks of a humane and humanistic society based on diversity and human dignity. (…) May this place remain a living space accessible to researchers, practitioners, and the wider public, here in Brandenburg and beyond, and inspire them to commit themselves to a democratic and inclusive society.”
(Prof. Dr. Heinrich Greving, 2025, on the occasion of the opening of the House for Democracy and Inclusion)

The first format in this series is currently in the development phase.
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