Emil Molt

Molt's association with Steiner began due to his interest in spirituality, particularly after he signed up as a member of the Theosophical Society in 1906. Steiner was regularly invited to speak in its gatherings.^[3] The industrialist also became a follower of Steiner's esoteric philosophy called anthroposophy.

After World War I people believed it was possible to initiate new social arrangements.^[4] One of them was Molt, who decided to address the educational needs of his factory workers and their children.^[4] For this initiative, he was drawn to Steiner's holistic proposition in education, which holds that teaching must attend to multiple aspects of human experience.^[5] Following a series of consultations, Molt and Steiner founded the Waldorf school after gaining the approval of the German Minister of Culture.^[1] It opened in September 1919 in Stuttgart, Germany.^[6] Molt bought the Uhlandeshohe Restaurant as the school's first building and altered it according to Steiner's specifications.^[7] The adjoining properties were later purchased as the school expanded.^[7] The Waldorf School opened with twelve teachers.^[8] Initially, there were 150 students who were chosen from proletarian families and with parents who belong to the Anthroposophical Society.^[9]

Waldorf schools became the largest independent school movement in the world.^[10][11]

• Bio at Rudolf Steiner Web