Esoteric Lessons 1913–1923

GA 266III — Hildesheim

History of the Youth Circle III

Paul Baumann, teacher at the Stuttgart Waldorf School and co-signatory of the appeal of March 17, 1920, for the formation of a youth branch, distanced himself from a circular letter¹

Anthroposophical Youth Movement. A correction.

For some time now, there has been a confused flurry of activity under the banner of the above title, which appears to be more closely linked to a gross breach of trust and misuse of my signature than is actually the case.

Its program as an organization is in every respect contrary to what I stand for. I have no intention of disrupting the positive work of the Anthroposophical Society by giving irresponsible elements, whose only essential attribute is their youth, the opportunity to wreak havoc in the name of the Society and abuse it for their own personal ends. Nor do I wish to found a meaningless youth movement that merely intoxicates itself with phrases; but if there are young people who are interested in youth and have the firm will to work in an anthroposophical direction, and if they wish to express their aspirations in a special group, then it makes sense to bring them together.

Two points of view come into consideration here: Extensive work reaching out to all circles, especially to young people, scientific, artistic, and propagandistic activities, can also be carried out by individuals without any organization; groups will arise only on the basis of achievements and can then come into contact with one another in order to enrich each other and develop a common impetus. If free groups already exist today, their union into an “anthroposophical youth movement” must have the purpose of strengthening them: generous undertakings should be made possible through them. The other point of view is that of an “anthroposophical youth branch” within the framework of the Society. As a representative recognized by the Executive Council, I will form such a branch as soon as a number of people join me under the conditions that justify its establishment. This youth branch would, however, make different demands on its members than a mere “pledge” by young people; it would include the aforementioned external activities and require even greater achievements. Its special task is to prepare those who have left school for spiritual science through personal contact. The goals of such a youth branch are to continue the educational work of the Waldorf School, to support spiritual-scientific academic endeavors, and to find and guide people who can be trusted to put this into practice. Even in the best case, it will initially only have a small number of members, and the “will to live” of the youngest members will probably be limited to learning; regulating their thought processes and clarifying their emotional lives can fully occupy their energies and are urgently needed today; they can only be given the right to vote when they are trustworthy; the responsibility for making this judgment rests with the representative. On this basis, youth groups can be established in various places and then join together.

I did not want to give programmatic explanations here, but only brief references to the foundations that must be in place for a fruitful youth movement, and above all a correction of the views that could be attributed to me on the basis of a (second) circular letter bearing my name as the address of the office, without my having been involved in any way or having agreed to it. It was written and sent in my absence. My work here in Stuttgart is already in the service of a comprehensive anthroposophical youth movement that exists spiritually; if this movement finds the opportunity to take on external organizational forms, the youth will be taking a big step forward.

Paul Baumann, teacher at the Free Waldorf School
Stuttgart, Landhausstr. 107 II