Publicist, Teacher and Author: Niki Glattauer is Dead
Niki Glattauer became known in recent decades with books such as "The Pisa Lie. How Our School Really Gets Better".
"I would like to thank all those who have shared in the fate of my brother Niki and inform them: We spent a beautiful last evening together as a family. We played cards, ate, drank, laughed, and cried," said Daniel Glattauer to the APA. "On Thursday morning, he peacefully, relaxed, without fear and without pain, fell asleep before our eyes at home. His last words were: 'Beautiful. Wow!'"
Niki Glattauer: Beginnings as a Journalist, Career Changer as a Teacher
Glattauer was born on January 1, 1959, as the son of journalist Herbert O. Glattauer in Zurich and grew up in Vienna. Initially, Glattauer worked as a journalist for "Die Presse", the "Kronen Zeitung", and the "Kurier", and eventually served as deputy editor-in-chief at the weekly magazine "News". At around the age of 40, he decided to switch careers and become a teacher, and in 2017 he became the director of the General Special School in Vienna-Meidling. During the discussion about the planned school reform under the then Minister of Education Claudia Schmied (SPÖ), Glattauer made waves with the demand "Erase the hard drive and start anew". Among other things, he advocated for the expansion of all-day schools.
His literary work includes a dozen books, including two novels ("Jakobus, Stepson of God", 2002, and "In Bird's Eye View", 2005) as well as three children's books (such as "Sleep Well, Susi!", 2010). His children's book "Escape" was premiered in a stage version at the Schäxpir theater festival at the Landestheater Linz in 2017. In his popular non-fiction books, he addressed the topics of education and school from personal perspectives.
Numerous Books Provided Insight into the Education System
In his book "The Committed Teacher and His Enemies," he formulated "20 and 1" demands on society and politics alongside the description of his everyday life as an educator. With "Communication Book: Unfortunately, Lukas..." (2013), he published a kind of communication book novel that targeted the written communication between parents and teachers. With both works, he quickly found himself at the top of the domestic bestseller lists. For the "Kurier," Glattauer wrote the weekly column "School and the Rest of Life" until 2018, followed by the "Heute" column "Glattauer Gives Grades" until July of this year. Glattauer was also part of numerous juries, such as for the literature prize "Ohrenschmaus" and the Prix Ars Electronica. From 2016 to 2022, he was on the board of the Institute for Youth Literature.
Decision for Assisted Suicide After Cancer Diagnosis
Shortly before his death, he spoke in a joint interview with "Newsflix.at" and the "Falter" about his cancer diagnosis and his planned assisted suicide. There was also a concern behind this: "I want to inform people that in Austria, too, one can die with dignity if they are terminally ill."
Support services for people with suicidal thoughts and their relatives are offered by the suicide prevention portal of the Ministry of Health. At www.suizid-praevention.gv.at, you can find contact details of support facilities in Austria. Information for young people is available at www.bittelebe.at
(APA/Red)
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