ALBERT EINSTEIN

AT SCHOOL

By Patrick Pringle
Introduction
• The lesson “Albert Einstein at School” is an extract from
the biography of Albert Einstein, named “The Young
Einstein” by Patrick Pringle.
• In this lesson, Patrick familiarises the reader with those
years in Einstein’s life where he was struggling each day
in school and as each day passed, the school diploma felt
like a far-fetched dream.
• It throws light upon a few encounters with his teacher,
what he felt about the neighbourhood he lived in and how
he had only one good friend, Yuri.
• The way Albert strategizes to get out of the miserable
place (school) and how things turned around in the end,
makes the story even more interesting.
About Albert Einstein and his views on Education
• He emphasizes freedom of thought and inquiry.
• He believed that learning facts was not education; rather
thinking new ideas to solve existing problems was
education.
• Albert Einstein showed the sparks of genius even at a
young age.
• His miserable years at school revealed how a talented
creative mind feels trapped and cloistered in the rigid
system of education.
• His “unthinking honesty” is seen as a refusal to confirm to
the education and not the learning of facts.
• Albert’s had rare intellectual genius and aptitude for
maths.
• Albert has an enquiring mind and a curious nature. He had a
thirst for information and he liked to study books on science.
• He loved music and played his violin regularly.
• Albert had a frank and honest temperament and was quite
sensitive and emotional.
• He did not compromise and adjust to the system of
education which encouraged learning without understanding.
• For him, ideas and enquiry were more important than facts
or dates.
• He didn’t like the orthodox and traditional teaching
methodology at the school. He had adjustment problems,
especially with the History teacher, Mr. Braun
• On the contrary, Mr. Koch, Albert’s math teacher considered
him a genius. 
 Albert manages to leave school
• Albert wanted to go back to Milan, in Italy. He discussed
his problem with Yuri, his friend and asked him if he knew
a doctor who could give him medical certificate for
nervous breakdown.
• He wanted to use the certificate to get a long leave from
the school. Yuri found him a doctor, Ernest Weil who
easily issued him the certificate.
• However, Albert could not use his medical certificate. As
soon as he reached the school, he was called to the
headmaster’s office where he was asked to leave the
school on his own accord otherwise he would be expelled.
When Albert asked his fault, he was charged of disturbing
Mr. Braun. Without much argument, Albert willingly left the
school, as this is what he wanted.
Message
Learning facts is not education; rather thinking new
ideas to solve existing problems is education.