Existentialist education aims to help students understand themselves as unique individuals who take responsibility for their own thoughts and actions. Teachers help students define their essence by exposing them to different life paths and creating an environment where students freely choose their own way. The curriculum emphasizes the humanities and history of individuals to provide models for students and unleash their creativity, with the goal of educating the whole person rather than just the mind.

1. Existentialism

2. Why teach?
“to help students understand and
appreciate themselves as unique
individuals who accept complete
responsibility for their thoughts,
feeling and actions.”

3. Teacher’s Role
“Help students define
their own essence by
exposing them to
various paths they
take in life and by
creating an
environment in which
they freely choose
their own preferred
way.
Existentialist demands the
education of the whole
person, not just the mind

4. What to
teach?
Students are given a
wide variety of options
from which to choose.
Humanities are given tremendous
emphasis to provide students with
vicarious experiences that will help
unleash their own creativity and self-
expression.

5. In history….
Rather than emphasizing historical events, they focus on
the actions of historical individuals that each of whom
provides possible models for the student’s own behavior.
Vocational education…
Teaching students about themselves and their potential
than of earning a livelihood.

6. How to teach?
•Focus on the individual
•Learning is self-paced, self-
directed.
•To help students know
themselves and their place in
society, teachers employ
values clarification strategy