Michael Hall Birthday Assembly Speech 

 Written and delivered by Emmeline Hawker, Acting Principal on Monday 20th January 2025 

Honoured Colleagues, Students and Friends,

Today we gather to celebrate a remarkable milestone – the 100th birthday of our beloved school.  

It was over 100 years ago, 106 years ago to be precise, that the first Waldorf School opened its doors in Stuttgart, Germany, inspired by the educational philosophy of Rudolf Steiner. As Rudolf Steiner said, “Our highest endeavour must be to develop free human beings who are able of themselves to impart purpose and direction to their lives. The need for imagination, a sense of truth, and a feeling of responsibility – these three forces are the very nerve of education”.  

Over the years, this vision has blossomed into a global movement with over 1,000 schools and nearly 2,000 kindergartens in over 70 countries around the world.  

So much has changed in those 100 years and I know that Mrs. Courtenay talked about some of those changes in her recent assembly, but this morning I would like to focus on two in particular. The first major change has been the introduction of AI. AI can seemingly create almost anything. For example, you can now ask an AI program to produce a picture in the style of renaissance art of a house with a grass roof and it will do exactly that. But in order to do that, it draws on human imagination and human work that has gone before, by searching through and analysing renaissance art, houses and grass roofs, all created by human beings. It does not have an imagination of its own. 

Another major event in the last 100 years has been the exploration of space. I’ve watched many interviews with people who have been into space and they all say the same thing. They say before they launch, they think that they will be deeply moved by the vast majesty of space but when they are there, it is not space that moves them, it is when they turn around and look back at our planet that they are profoundly moved. Seeing the beauty of the swirling blue sphere that us human beings inhabit and how it is a shared sphere that we must have responsibility for and care for, to sustain the rich and beautiful diversity of life. It is our responsibility. The responsibility of human beings. 

Therefore, Waldorf education is focused on helping students to gain a deep understanding of themselves, their place in the world and a profound connection to it. We do this by embracing the fullness of human experience in all its aspects, by recognising and nurturing the individuality of each student and recognising the importance of our shared goals and the need for imagination, truth, and responsibility. 

 As we reflect on the past 100 years, I would like to honour the countless teachers, parents and students who have been part of this journey. 

To our dear students. You have always been the heart of this school. Your curiosity, creativity and kindness inspire us teachers every day. You are all awesome and you certainly inspire me! You are the reason we strive to be better, and to uphold the values of Waldorf education. Remember that you are part of a legacy that spans a century and you have the power to shape the next 100 years. 

To my dear colleagues and those of the past 100 years, our unwavering dedication and love for teaching are the pillars of our success. We have nurtured generations of students, guiding them with wisdom and compassion. Our work is not just a profession; it is a calling, a profound sense of purpose and dedication that goes beyond the ordinary and that compels us to make a difference in the world.  

To our parents and community members of the past 100 years, thank you for your support and trust. Your involvement has enriched our school and created a wonderful community for our children. 

Happy 100th birthday Michael Hall, and here’s to many more years from the 100 year old roots of imagination, truth and responsibility on which I hope strong new shoots will grow.