Michael Stern (educator)
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Michael Stern | |
|---|---|
| Born | Michael Alexander Stern 13 January 1922 Hindhead, Surrey, England |
| Alma mater | Downing College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Educator |
| Known for | Founding of Waterford Kamhlaba United World College |
| Spouse |
Sarah Roberts (m. 1986–1987) |
| Children | 1 daughter, 1 stepson |
Michael Alexander Stern
Early life and career
Michael Alexander Stern was born on 13 January 1922 in Egypt, the son of a civil engineer. He attended Ravenswood Preparatory School in Devon and Gresham's School in Holt, Norfolk.
Stern went to
Stern taught at school in England, later assuming head teaching posts at
Waterford School
Stern left South Africa for Swaziland to establish a new school in which students of all races could study together, with an emphasis on cooperation in community service. As a result of his efforts, Waterford School was born in 1963.
Stern and his school became famous across southern Africa. Nelson Mandela, still in prison, sent his daughters there. Desmond Tutu sent his children. Seretse Khama, the leader of Botswana, sent his son Ian, who would later become President of Botswana. The Tutu and Sisulu families also sent their children.[2] Another Waterford boy, Fernando Honwana, became a trusted assistant to Samora Machel of Mozambique, helping him to act as go-between in negotiations between Margaret Thatcher's administration and the emerging African government in Rhodesia, later Zimbabwe. Stern's educational accomplishment was based on the school's balance of boys (and later girls) of all races, tribes and religions.
In November 1995, Nelson Mandela presented Stern with a Founder’s Medal, saying in his speech that Stern's time at Waterford "demonstrated in the worst days of apartheid, that even those who were free to enjoy the privileges of the system could ally themselves with the oppressed in the interest of non-racialism in Southern Africa."[1]
Stern was appointed
Later life
Stern returned to England in 1973 and served as superintendent for children's homes until 1980. He then served as director of the charity Mind from 1980 to 1983.[1]
In 1986, Stern married Sarah Roberts, who had a son, Hugh, by a previous marriage. They had a daughter, Miranda. Sarah died in 1987, and Michael Stern focused on raising the children himself.
Michael Stern died in a car accident in
References
- ^ a b c d e Vigne, Randolph (5 August 2002). "Michael Stern". The Independent.[dead link]
- ^ a b c d Legum, Colin (1 August 2002). "Obituary: Michael Stern". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 June 2016.