Albert Einstein At School by Patrick Pringle

1. The school system curbs individual talents. Discuss.
Ans:- It is a bitter truth that most of the students in the conventional school system manage to pass the examination by cramming facts, figures and matter. There is rarely any scope for creative and exceptionally gifted students to nourish their talents. The focus of many subjects is rote memorization of facts. This is why the greatest scientist of this era Albert Einstein finds himself in a dull and uninspiring school environment. He is interested in exploring the"cause and effect relationship" of a topic. His history teacher and the Headmaster fail to identify his hidden talent whereas the mathematics teacher is able to realize his inborn potential. The world would have lost a great scientist as Einstein if he had not shown his defiance to the obsession with facts and figures. His adherence to ideas and innovative thinking made him leave the school in Munich. It is really a matter of great concern that the school in Munich failed to provide him a congenial learning environment. He was rather classified as a dull and incompetent student. Many schools in this way are hampering the progress of creative and bright students.

2. What do you understand of Einstein's nature from his conversations with his history teacher, his mathematics teacher and the head teacher?
Ans:- Einstein's conversation with his history teacher reveals his aversion to the conventional system of learning in which importance is given to memorizing dates, facts and events. What mattered most for Einstein was exploring ideas and analyzing"cause and effect"relationship. So he was not at all interested in the class of his history teacher. Though the history teacher considered him a "disgrace", yet Einstein remained committed to his gentleness and courtesy while expressing his dislike of memory based learning. The conversation with his mathematics teacher is an exemplary specimen of a friendly student-teacher relationship. Einstein really deserves the words of praise and appreciation from the mathematics teacher. It shows the inborn talent of Einstein. The teacher is frank and outspoken and Einstein too, is humble and down-to-earth. The conversation with the head teacher is one of most embittering experiences for Einstein. The Head teacher fails to recognize Einstein's genius and goes on humiliating him. Still Einstein is too well-mannered a student to exchange words with the head teacher and does nothing more than just defying his order to close the door behind.

3. Describe the circumstances leading to Albert getting a medical certificate issued declaring him unfit to continue school.
Ans:- Albert Einstein was totally fed up with the academic environment of the school at Munich. He was deprived of the subjects best suited to his talent and genius. He used to express his severe dislike of learning dates of events. He wanted to explore ideas. Naturally, a clash of ideas arose between him and the history teacher. He began to be considered a disgrace and a factor responsible for making teaching difficult. So, Einstein was in search of a medical certificate declaring him as a victim of "nervous breakdown". Yuri was the person who came to his help. He made necessary arrangements for procuring it from his friend, Dr Weil and fixed an appointment with Einstein. After talking to Einstein, the doctor wanted to know his future plan. The doctor expressed sympathy for Einstein and provided him the certificate.
 

Mr. Rupjyoti Goswami
Post Graduate Teacher (English)
Bhogeswar Hazarika Girls' Higher Secondary School, Bebejia, Nagaon, Assam.
Email: rupjyotigoswami983@gmail.com
Mobile: 9864425896.
Contact us (whatsapp no-7020477396) for free notes on English, Political Science, Logic & Philosophy, MIL Assamese, Advanced Assamese, Swadesh Adhyayan, Economics, Education, History.

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