“Albert-Einstein at School” is a story that portrays a young Albert Einstein in his history class. When asked about a historical date, Albert questions the point of memorizing information that can be easily looked up. Read More English Summaries.
Albert-Einstein at School Summary
Albert-Einstein at School by Patrick Pringle Introduction
In this lesson, the author refers to a young boy (Einstein) who is of extraordinary talent. However, this boy does not like his school and its system. Finally, he is expelled from the school.
Albert-Einstein at School Summary in English
Albert was in his class. The History teacher, Mr. Brawn asked him when did Prussians defeated the French at Waterloo. Albert told that he didn’t know or he must have forgotten. This irritated the teacher. He asked Albert, “Why?” Albert replied that he didn’t see any point in learning dates. One could read about them from books.
The teacher thought that Albert didn’t believe in education. He talked in a sarcastic manner. Albert told him that education should be about ideas and not about facts. The teacher said that Albert was a disgrace to the school.
Albert was sad to leave the school though he didn’t like this school. He would have to come to it again. He lived in a small room. It was situated in one of the poorest quarters of Munich. The landlady used to beat her children regularly. Her husband came drunk every Saturday and beat her. Albert didn’t like the children’s crying every time. Albert told these things to his friend Yuri. He hated the atmosphere of slum violence.
Next time, his cousin came to Munich. She told Albert that if he had tried he could have pass the examination. There were more stupid boys than him. Moreover, passing the examination was not difficult. It was just to be able to repeat some events in the examination. He told Elsa that he was not good at learning things by heart. He liked music as it gave him comfort. He also liked Geology.
Albert didn’t like to remain in that school. He met Yuri after six months. He had an idea. He told Yuri that he needed a medical certificate showing that he suffered from a nervous breakdown. In this way, he could get rid of his school. He asked Yuri if he had a doctor friend. Yuri told him that he had one, Dr. Ernest Weil. However, Yuri told him not to deceive him. He must be frank with him.
When Albert visited Dr. Ernest Weil, he had really come close to a nervous breakdown. Dr. Ernest issued him a certificate. His fees was that he should serve Yuri with a meal. Albert told Dr. Ernest about his future plans. He would go to Milan. He hoped to get admission in some Italian college or institute. Yuri told him to get a reference in writing from the Mathematics teacher before going to the head teacher. Mr. Koch, the Mathematics teacher, was a different man. He understood Albert well. He gave a glowing testimonial to him. He wrote that Albert knew so much that it was difficult to teach him any more. He was fit to enter a college.
Albert-Einstein at School Summary
Before Albert had a chance to ask for an interview with the head teacher, he was summoned to his room. The head teacher told Albert that he wanted him to leave the school. Albert asked the head teacher if he meant that he was to be expelled. The head teacher told him that if he went of his own accord, that question wouldn’t arise.
The head teacher gave several reasons for his leaving the school. He said that Albert’s presence made it impossible for the teachers to teach and pupils to learn. No serious work could be done as long as he was there. Albert felt that his spending money on the medical certificate proved useless. For a moment, Albert felt like telling him what he thought of him and the school but he did not. He went out of the room. The head teacher asked him to close the door behind him but Albert didn’t. He didn’t even have the last look at the school. Yuri was the only person whom Albert felt like seeing when he left. He had no other real friend.