The German Psychology Teachers’ Association (GPTA) - Verband der Psychologielehrerinnen und -lehrer

The German Association was founded in 1978 in Northrhine-Westfalia in order to represent the interests of grammar school teachers in this state where the subject was newly established. In 1983 it was extended to the whole area of West Germany, (vocational schools included) and in 1991 activities were extended to the former German Democratic Republic so that it is now a general association open to all psychology teachers in Germany. In 2004 there were 604 members.

Aims and activities:

representation of the interests of psychology teachers in state institutions (educational boards, etc)

development of curricula and standards

activities to establish psychology as a school subject in more schools or states

exchange of teaching experience

exchange of teaching material, e. g. development of material for special teaching units and organization of a mail order service for members

publication of our magazine at least once a year

organization of our annual meeting usually in form of a conference on a topic relevant for teaching, with seminars or lectures held by experts or university members (e.g. New Aspects of Developmental Psychology, Health Psychology, etc.)

issues of staff training and development

development and up-dating of a homepage as a communicative platform for our association: www.psychologielehrer.de

international contacts

Margret Peters
e-mail: margret-peters(at)archor.de