International Anarchist School

Finding herself exiled in England in the 1890s she wanted to establish a school on anarchist principles, eschewing religion and instead guided by scientific reason, freethought and respect for individual liberties.

Due to her lack of fluency in English, Michel agreed that Auguste Coulon, a polyglot she had met at the Autonomie Club, could be the school's secretary and language teacher.

The teaching itself was largely free to access, being based on Bakuninist principles of education, as well as drawing a significant influence from the work of the anarchist pedagogue Paul Robin.

As secretary to the International Anarchist School Coulon was able to come into close proximity to those involved with the institution, giving him access to their personal details, and even providing a pretence to photograph them.

[12] Following his dismissal from the International School, Coulon published a pamphlet in which he made false denunciations against his successors, David Nicoll and Cyril Bell, accusing them of defrauding funds from the movement and working for the police.