Albert Einstein at School, Class 11

 

Albert Einstein at School:

 

1.       1. What was Einstein’s theory about education?

Ans- Einstein believed that the then existing education method was incapable of meeting the purpose of education. He believed that learning facts and dates was not educated. He was against learning facts and dates by heart. He was rather interested in ideas, instead of learning the dates of battles.

2.    2.   What made Einstein’s life miserable in the slum where he lived?

Ans- Albert Einstein did not mind the bad food and lack of comfort or even the dirt and squalor, but he hated the atmosphere of slum violence. His landlady beat her children reqularly and every Saturday her husband came drunk and beat her. Apart from this, he felt constantly sad at the thought of having to go back to school where he had not a single friend.

3.       3. Who was Mr Koch? How did he help Einstein in his future life?

Ans- Mr Koch was Einstein’s Mathematics teacher.

              Mr Koch never disliked Einstein’s and he admired him and his knowledge and thought that probably Albert would soon be able to teach him. Apart from his admiration, Mr Koch also helped him with a certificate which could help Einstein secure a seat in a college or institute for the study of Higher Mathematics.

4.      4.  What do you understand of Einstein nature from his conversations with his history teacher, his mathematics teacher and the head teacher?

Ans- Einstein set of mind was totally different from the other boys in his class. According to him learning the facts and dates by heart was quite useless. Ideas lured him more than the facts and therefore he hated any argument or conversation with his history teacher. They never come to a similar agreement.

              Further from his conversation with the Math teacher, we come to know that he was a student who actually had some interest in Mathematics. That is the only class in which he paid lots of attention and never wasted his time. He wasn’t open and outright in front of his Mathetematics teacher.

              At last from the conversation with his headmaster we find him defensive at the beginning and carefree at the end. He in fact holds his head high and stalked out ignoring head teacher’s words.

5.     5.   What were Einstein’s views regarding rote learning? Why is mere rote learning useless?

Ans- Einstein as a student at Munich was different from the other boys of his age. Einstein says that he doesn’t see any point In learning facts and dates. He is against the system of education which gives more emphasis on learning by rote.

                            

“I can’t see any point on learning dates.

One can always               Look them up in a book.”

He says mere recalling facts would not be of any use. One must cultivate a proper understanding of the subjects rather than parrot learning. For him answering the question “why” is more interesting rather than the question “how” and “when”. He finds rote learning useless because it doesn’t put any challenge to the mental faculties.

6.       6. Who was Elsa? What did she think of Albert?

Ans- Elsa was Albert’s cousin, who lived in Berlin.

              Elsa told her that anyone can learn and just produce the same in the examinations and pass. She also told albert that she was sure Albert could learn enough to pass the examinations if he tried. She told him that she knew many students more stupid than Albert they got through the examinations. So, he should also by and pass the examination.