Education that Works
We research what children truly need to grow up in dignity, joy and respect.
4
Research Areas
3
Countries
3
Partners
2024
Founded
Why We Must Act Now
Current studies and statistics reveal an alarming trend in the mental health of children, adolescents and adults – and point to humanistic education as an effective solution. Dignity, joy and respect must be cultivated at all stages of life.
37%
of Swiss adolescents
are affected by mental health problems
UNICEF Switzerland, 2024+38%
more depression cases
among adolescents in 5 years (2018–2023)
Ärzteblatt, October 202414%
of adolescents
have considered suicide
FHNW Study, 2024Mental Health Burden in Children & Adolescents (2024)
Parental Burnout Prevalence (Europe)
Studies in Detail – Click to Expand
What Truly Makes People Happy?
The World Happiness Report 2024 (Oxford University) and happiness research show: Education that puts the whole person at the center is the strongest predictor of lifelong well-being.
Finland
Happiest Country 2024
Switzerland
Rank 9 Worldwide
World Avg.
Average 2024
Adolescents
Declining trend since 2012
Life Satisfaction is Declining
The World Happiness Report 2024 documents: Life satisfaction declines continuously from childhood through adolescence – particularly strongly in Western Europe. In 17 of 35 countries studied, suicide rates among adolescents rose between 2018 and 2022.
World Happiness Report 2024, Oxford UniversityHappiness Can Be Learned
Positive psychology studies (Seligman, Csikszentmihalyi) show: Children who learn emotional competence, gratitude and strengths orientation show permanently higher life satisfaction. These skills are teachable – when schools prioritize them.
Positive Psychologie, Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi (2000)Humanistic Education Works
A highly cited article (Hanley, Winter & Burrell, British Journal of Educational Psychology 2020, cited 96×) shows: Schools with a humanistic approach significantly improve emotional well-being. Students show more self-efficacy, less anxiety and stronger social bonds.
British Journal of Educational Psychology, 2020«Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.»
— William Butler Yeats (often cited, traditional attribution)
«Children who feel seen, heard and loved develop the resilience to master life's challenges.»
— Shalva Amonashvili, Humanistic Educator and Education Researcher
Being seen, heard and loved – this applies not only to children. It applies to adults, to elderly people, to every living being. Dignity, joy and respect are not privileges of childhood – they must be cultivated and lived among adults, extending to all living beings that share our planet.
All of this is interconnected – including towards oneself. Those who treat themselves with dignity, compassion and respect naturally carry this attitude into relationships with other people, animals and the entire living world.
Our Vision
Science in Service of the Child
The Humanistic School Switzerland combines pedagogical practice with scientific research. We investigate how humanistic values in education create lasting impact.
Impact of Humanistic Education (Research Findings)
Risk Factors Without Humanistic Education
SOCIETAL FUNDAMENTAL TASK
Childhood Shapes Everything
What we experience in the first years of life shapes our brain, our personality and our capacity for empathy – for a lifetime. But humanistic values do not end with childhood: Dignity, joy and respect must also be cultivated and lived among adults – in the relationship with oneself, with other people, with animals and all living beings. Everything is interconnected. Humanistic education is therefore not just one pedagogical method among many. It is a fundamental societal task.
«The first seven years of a child's life lay the foundation for their entire emotional, social and cognitive life. No later intervention can fully replace this imprint – but a loving, humanistic education can build the foundation so strong that the child can build upon it for a lifetime.»
— Based on the insights of Sh. A. Amonashvili, J. Heckman (Nobel Laureate in Economics) and the ACE Study (CDC/Kaiser Permanente)
Happier Children
Children who grow up in a humanistic environment develop stable self-esteem, emotional resilience and the ability to resolve conflicts non-violently.
More Stable Society
Children raised humanistically become adults who take responsibility, strengthen community and actively live democratic values – the foundation of a peaceful society.
Empathy for All Living Beings
Children who learn to respect themselves and others naturally develop compassion for animals and all of nature. Dignity and respect do not end with humans – they extend to all living beings. Humanistic education is the root of a compassionate relationship with the entire living world.
Humanistic Education as a Holistic Cycle
ACE Study (Adverse Childhood Experiences) – CDC/Kaiser Permanente
The largest longitudinal study on childhood experiences (over 17,000 participants) shows: Adverse childhood experiences increase the risk of depression by 460%, suicide attempts by 1,220% and drug addiction by approx. 1,000%. Conversely: Children with secure attachment, appreciation and emotional support develop resilience that protects them for a lifetime. Humanistic education is preventive healthcare.
Source: Felitti et al. (1998), American Journal of Preventive Medicine · Heckman, J.J. (2013), Science
Research Focus
What We Study
Humanistic Pedagogy
Effectiveness of methods by Confucius, Montessori, Steiner and Amonashvili in modern educational practice.
Child Development
How dignity, empathy and self-efficacy promote cognitive and emotional development in children.
Intercultural Learning
Educational models that use cultural diversity as a resource – in Switzerland and Thailand.
Teacher Training
How teachers can anchor and pass on humanistic values in everyday school life.
Animal Kingdom & All Living Beings
Dignity, joy and respect do not end with humans. Humanistic education cultivates compassion for all living beings – from the relationship with oneself, to fellow humans, to animals and the entire natural world. Everything is interconnected.
Enable Research
Your donation funds studies, publications and the development of an international research network.
Contact
Research Inquiry
Are you a researcher, educational institution or foundation? We welcome your inquiry.