Albert Einstein at School by Patrick Pringle [AHSEC Class 11 English Notes for 2025 Exam]

Albert Einstein at School by Patrick Pringle
[AHSEC Class 11 English Notes for 2025 Exam]

About The Chapter

This biographical piece discusses the childhood to Albert Einstein, the famous physicist. The chapter starts with Einstein’s disagreement on rote learning with his history teacher. Einstein wanted to get away from the system of education followed in Munich. So he decided to get a doctor’s certificate declaring that he has had a nervous breakdown and needs rest for six months. Only his math teacher admired Einstein for his brilliance. But before Einstein could get an appointment with the head teacher to present the certificate, he was asked by the head teacher to leave the school due to poor conduct. So he felt happy on leaving.

About the Characters

Albert Einstein During his schooldays at Munich, he was not interested in the rote learning methods of school education and expressed his frank opinion. Nobody except his math teacher recognized his genius. In the end he was expelled by the school authorities.

Mr. Braun He was Einstein’s history teacher who believes in the rote learning system of education.

Yuri He was Einstein’s good friend and a very helpful person.

Elsa She was Einstein’s cousin who advised him that he will eventually succeed if he continues in his school.

Dr. Ernst Well He was a newly qualified doctor who understands Einstein and helps him by giving the medical certificate which he required.

Mr. Koch He was Einstein’s math teacher who understood his genius and gave him the reference he wanted.

Head Teacher He is an administrator who simply takes the disciplinary action required by requesting Einstein to leave the school.

SUMMARY OF THE CHAPTER

Einstein in History Class

The narrative beings with Einstein being asked by his history teacher, Mr. Braun, about the year in which the Prussians defeated the French at Waterloo, Einstein frankly replied that he did not remember and he didn’t see any point in learning dates. Mr. Braun was amazed that Einstein didn’t believe in learning facts. According to Einstein, learning facts was not education at all. He thought that ideas were more important than facts. The teacher asked him to explain ‘Einstein’s theory of education’. Einstein shingly elaborated that he would be more interested in learning the reason why soldiers killed each other instead of learning years or dates, or which of the armies killed more men.

Einstein Gets Scolded

Mr. Braun was shocked and furious. He believed that Einstein had no desire to learn and was wasting his father’s money. Mr. Braun did not agree with Einstein’s views on education. He punished Einstein by asking him to stay for an extra period in school. He also told Einstein that he was a disgrace to the school and ought to be ashamed of himself. The teacher suggested Einstein to call his father to take him away.

Einstein Hated the Atmosphere of Slum Violence

Einstein felt miserable that day. He wished his father would take him away. His father was not rich. So, Einstein lived in one of the poorest areas of Munich. He hated the slum violence there.

Einstein had no comfort there. The atmosphere was bad as his landlady beat her children regularly and every Saturday her husband, a drunkard, beat her. The only comfort for Einstein was when he played his violin, but that was also, stopped by his landlady because its sound disturbed her. All this made him miserable.

Einstein shard his pain with Yuri, his only friend in Munich. Yuri tried to convince by telling him that he was lucky to at least have his own room.

Yuri also told Einstein that he was sharing a room with students who were not civilized at all and they fought with each other. One of the students got killed the previous week in such a duel. The authorities did not take action and merely told them not to engage in such fights. Einstein got disgusted after hearing this account.

Also Read: AHSEC Class 11 Chapter wise notes  (Prose & Poetry 30 Marks)

Einstein Met his Cousin Elsa

Einstein was doubtful about passing his exams for the school diploma. He told Elsa, his cousin, the same when she next came to Munich. She used to visit Einstein occasionally but she lived in Berlin, where her father had a business. Elsa tried to counsel him. She told him that she knew a lot of boys who were more stupid than him and they all had passed the exam. She counseled him to continue his studies in the school.

Einstein explained his helplessness by saying that he was no good at learning things by heart. He was reading a book on geology, which was not even a part of his diploma. Still, he was studying it because he liked it. Apart from books on science, his only comfort was playing his violin, until his landlady asked him to stop.

Einstein’s Plan to Get Away from School

Einstein thought that it was meaningless for him to stay on in Munich. It was no use wasting his father’s money and everyone’s time. Einstein suddenly got an idea. He met Yuri and asked him if he knew a doctor. Einstein wanted to get a medical certificate to show that he had a nervous breakdown and he should stop going to school. Yuri doubted that the doctor will believe Einstein. Einstein commented that he would have a real nervous breakdown to make matters easier for the doctor.

The Doctor Gives Einstein a Medical Certificate

Yuri found a recently qualified doctor. Dr. Ernst Weil. Yuri warned Einstein against trying to deceive Ernst, but to be frank and honest.

Einstein met Dr. Ernst the next day. Dr. Ernst informed him that Yuri had told him about his troubles. Einstein informed him about his plans to move to Milan. Dr. Ernst gave him a medical certificate stating that Einstein was suffering from nervous breakdown and should stay away from school for six months. Einstein thanked the doctor and took Yuri for a meal.

Einstein Seeks a Reference

Einstein told Yuri that he would leave school forever as he never wanted to come back to that school. Yuri suggested him to take a reference letter from his math teacher, to Mr. Koch, before going to the headmaster. Mr. Koch really admired Einstein for his brilliance and gave him the reference.

Einstein Summoned by Head Teacher

Before Einstein had a chance to give the medical certificate to the head teacher, he was summoned to the head teacher’s office. The head teacher told him that he was expelled from the school and he should leave immediately.

When Einstein wanted to know the reason, the head teacher told him that his presence disturbed the class so much that no teaching could be done.

Einstein Happy to Leave the School

When Einstein heard this, he felt sad that he had unnecessarily wasted time and effort in procuring a medical certificate. Einstein was tempted to tell the head teacher what he thought about the school or about the teachers but somehow stopped himself. But he did not feel ashamed in being expelled and walked out keeping his head high. He did not say goodbye to any teacher or student inside the school.

The only person he wanted to meet before leaving was Yuri, who wished him good luck and wished that he would be happier in Milan as it was wonderful place.

CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS

Ø  The chapter opens in history class where Mr. Braun is asking Einstein a question related to dates. Einstein gives a frank reply that he does not remember the answer.

Ø  The conversation between Einstein and his history teacher Mr. Braun turns unpleasant when the teacher talks in a sarcastic manner about Einstein’s theory of education. The teacher calls him a disgrace and punishes him.

Ø  Einstein fells very miserable due to many factors; the school environment, the place where he lived etc.

Ø  The atmosphere when he lives is also depressing. He hates the atmosphere of ‘slum violence’ where the beating of children by their mother and the beating of a wife by a drunk husband is a regular feature.

Ø  Einstein discusses about all this with his friend Yuri who lives in a shared room.

Ø  Yuri says that his room was no better than Einstein’s, as students became violent over small matters.

Ø  Einstein discusses about the problems at school with his cousin Elsa who occasionally visited him.

Ø  Elsa thinks there is no reason that he cannot pass by remembering facts even though he does not understand them.

Ø  Einstein is greatly interested in reading books on science. Elsa points out to him that reading those books will not help him to pass his examination.

Ø  Einstein discusses with Yuri about getting a medical certificate from a doctor so that he can stay away from his school.

Ø  Yuri sends him to a newly qualified doctor. Ernst Well. He is an understanding person and gives a certificate stating that Einstein is closed to a nervous breakdown and should keep away from school for six months.

Ø  Yuri suggests to Einstein to meet his math teacher first for a reference before Einstein went to meet the head teacher with the medical certificate.

Ø  Einstein’s Math teacher, Mr. Koch, appreciates his brilliance. He gives a glowing reference to Einstein which can get him admission is a college or institute for higher education in math.

Ø  Einstein is called by the head teacher who informs him that he is being expelled from the school. The head teacher tells him of his misbehavior in class.

Ø  Einstein happily leaves the school with head held high. He does not bid goodbye to any teacher or student of that school.

Ø  Before leaving for Milan, he meets his best friend Yuri, who wishes him good luck for the future.

Questions-Answers

1. What was Einstein idea of education? What kind of a stdent was he?     2011  2016     2018

Or

Why does Einstein think that learning facts is no education at all?          2017

Ans. Einstein’s view on education was completely different from others. According to him education should not be based on facts but on ideas. There is no point in learning facts. He was against learning facts and dates by heart. He was interested in knowing or learning ideas which accounts for progress in any field of life. Ideas, that come from critical thinking and analysis, formed real education.

Albert was frank and fearless boy. He did what he like.

2. What punishment did the history teacher give to Albert Einstein for not answering his questions?

Ans. Einstein gave an unexpected answer to the history teacher. The history teacher got angry at him and punished him to attend extra classes that day. He also told hism that he was a disgrace to the school.

3. What do you think of Albert-impolite or frank?

Ans. Albert is not rude or impolite as his history teacher comes to believe. He contradicts his teacher in a polite and yet firm tone. He uses ‘Sir’ in speaking to his teacher and does not sound rude. It is only due to his fearlessness and frankness that he is misunderstood.

4. Why did not Albert feet cheerful’ to go back to his lodging? Or What type of life did he live in Munich?

Ans. Albert lived a miserable life in Munich. He did not mind the poor quality of food he got or even the dirt and squalor. He was only troubled by the atmosphere of slum violence. His landlady beat her children regularly. On every Saturday she was beaten by her drunkard husband. So he had no peace of mind there. He could not even play his violin as it irritated his landlady.

5. Why was the history teacher annoyed with Albert?

Ans. Albert never bothered to learn the things taught to him by the history teacher. He told the teacher that he did not believe in learning facts. He said he was interested not in learning the dates of battles but in learning why the soldiers were trying to kill each other. The history teacher got offended with his careless attitude. He asked him to leave the school if he had no faith in the school education.

6. Who was Yuri? What was his role in the given extract?

Ans. Yuri was the only friend Albert had in Munich. Yuri had a great concern for Albert. So when Albert disclosed his plan to leave school, Yuri decided to help him. He fixed an appointment with a fresh medical graduate Doctor Earnest Weil who readily certified. Albert with nervous breakdown and six months rest. Always a well wisher, he bade Albert goodbye when he left school.

7. What did Albert ask his friend Yuri to do?

Ans. Albert asked Yuri to arrange for him a medical certificate. He wanted the doctor to say that he could not attend school for some time as he was suffering from nervous breakdown.

8. Who was Doctor Ernst Weil? How did he help Albert?

Ans. Doctor Ernst Weil was a specialist in nervous troubles. He easily understood Albert’s problem. So he issued him a certificate to the effect that he should not attend school for six months as he had a nervous breakdown.

9. Albert was quite nervous when he met the doctor. What does this show?

Ans. Albert wanted a certificate to the effect that he had a nervous breakdown so that he might stay away from his school for some time. When he went to the doctor to get the fake certificate, he became really nervous as he was too honest to pretend nervousness.

10. Why did the head teacher summon Albert?

Ans. The head teacher summoned Albert to tell him that he had decided to punish him for his extremely bad performance. He wanted him to leave the school of his own accord, otherwise he would be expelled.

11. What reason was given by the head teacher for his decision to expel Albert?

Ans. The head teacher said that the very presence of Albert hindered the teachers to teach and the pupils to learn. He said that he had refused to learn and that he was in constant rebellion. In fact, he wanted to say that the school did not like his habit of too much questioning and his refusal to go with the established system.

12. How did Albert react to the head teacher’s decision of expelling him from school?

Ans. Albert wanted to say what he thought of the head teacher and his school. But he said nothing and came out briskly, holding his head high. He ignored the shouting of the head teacher to shut the door after him.

13. In what mood did Albert Leave Munich?

Ans. Albert had nothing but hatred for Munich. He left it without turning his head to give it a last look. He met only his friend Yuri before going. Yuri wished him well.

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

Ans. Mr. Koch was Einstein’s mathematics teacher. He was a great man and probably the one who saw the genius in Einstein. He admired Einstein’s knowledge and thought probably Albert would soon be able to teach him. Apart from that Mr. Koch gave him a certificate that helped Einstein secure a seat in a university.

15. What for did Einstein require a medical certificate?

Ans. Einstein enquired his friend Yuri about a friendly doctor who would certify him falsely for a nervous breakdown as he longed to escape from the school. Einstein hated the school at Munich and longed to escape. But he knew that if he left his studies and went to Italy to join his family, his father would get angry and send him back.

One day he gets an idea. He decides to play a small drama. He would pretend that he has had a nervous breakdown. He would say that he has been advised by the doctor to discontinue studies.

16. Who was Elsa? What did she try to make him understand?

                                             Or

 What was the view of Elsa about Albert?         2014

Ans. Elsa was Albert’s cousin. She tried to persuade him to learn the things and repeat them in the examination. She was sure he was capable of doing so but he was not trying. By doing so, he would get his school diploma.

17. What were young Einstein’s interests?

Ans. Young Einstein was interested in science and music. He read books on science and played his violin. Elsa found him reading a Geology book. The problem was that such books were of no use to him for examination purpose.

18. How did Albert Einstein decide to get rid of his school? Explain.

Or

Why and how did Albert decide to get rid of his school?          2012

Ans. Albert didn’t feel at ease at school. After his encounter with the teacher he felt insulted. He decided to get rid of his school by producing a false certificate from a doctor. The doctor was to certify that he had a nervous breakdown. It would serve his purpose. He would not be medically fit to stay in the school.

19. What was the Mathematics teacher Koch’s opinion about Albert’s mathematical knowledge? 2015

Ans: Mr. Koch was the only teacher who understood Einstein’s abilities. In his class Einstein never got bored. Mr. Koch realized that Einstein was a mathematical genius. In fact, Mr. Koch thought that he could not teach Einstein any more and probably Einstein would soon be able to teach him.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. What do you understand of Einstein’s nature from his conversations with his history teacher, his mathematics teacher and the head teacher?         2017

Ans. As a student at Munich, Einstein was different from the other boys of his age. From his conversation with his history teacher, his mathematics teacher and the head teacher we come to know what type of a man Einstein was. Einstein directly told his history teacher that he did not like dates and facts of historical events. For which his history teacher often rebuked and taunted him. He clearly expressed his mind. For him learning facts was not education. For him ideas and not facts were important. But his history teacher and the head teacher did not understand his true character. However, Mr. Koch, Einstein’s math teacher could see the genius in him. He gave a glowing recommendation that there was nothing more to teach Einstein. Infect the teacher could not learn from him.

But the head teacher failed to see Einstein’s genius view point. He called him a nuisance and expelled him from school.

2. The school system often curbs individual talents. Discuss.

Or

How does the example of Einstein prove that the school system ends up by curbing individual talent?         2017

Ans. In most of the countries of the world, the school education has remained rigid and conservative. Each school evolves a system in which every pupil is expected to try to fit in. Even teacher are expected to blindly follow the system. No deviation is tolerated or encouraged. Individual talents are often curbed. A student who wants to study science is forced to learn facts of history.

This is what we get about the school in which young Einstein studied. Einstein had natural inclination for science and mathematics. He was not interested in learning facts but in ideas. He was called a ‘disgrace’ to the school. The head teacher decided to expel him if he did not leave the school of his own accord.

Strangely, most of our great writers, scientists and pioneers have all found fault with the school education. They simply disliked or hated schools for curbing their mental flights.

3. How do you distinguish between information gathering and insight formation?         2018

Ans. Information gathering is different from insight formation. Anybody who is interested in facts can go to a library and consult books. Nowadays most of the facts, relating to different subjects and fields, are available on the Internet. Those who get these facts and learn them by heart pass their examinations with a good score. In reality, they are merely literate, information gatherers.

On the other hand, insight formation is a difficult activity. Insight formation requires a cool and objective analysis of the given facts. It leads us to new conclusions, discoveries and inventions. No wonder, persons like Einstein disliked learning facts. They insisted on knowing why a particular event happened this or that way. Not things but ideas interest such persons.

ADDITIONAL LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. What circumstances led to Einstein’s expulsion from his school in Munich?

Or

Describe the circumstances leading to Albert getting a medical certificate issued declaring him unfit to continue school.          2015

Ans. The young Einstein got into a school in Munich. His father wanted him to get his school diploma. In spite of his best efforts, he failed to cope with the circumstances. He did not bother about poor food, lack of comfort or even the dirt and squalor. With his own strong views about learning, he annoyed almost all his teachers. He wanted to know the reason or reasons about everything he was taught. His unsatiating curiosity hampered the teaching process in his classes. Only his mathematics teacher recognized his ability and spoke highly of him.

Very soon Einstein realized that he was only wasting his time and his father’s money. He procured a medical certificate testifying to his nervous breakdown and recommending six months’ absence from the school. But even before he could use it, the head teacher summoned him. He told Einstein that he should go of his own accord, otherwise he would be formally expelled.

2. How was Albert’s life miserable in Munich?

Ans. Albert Einstein was sent to Munich to study for his diploma in a school. His father was poor. So he had to live in a small, dingy room in the ugliest and the poorest area of Munich. There was an atmosphere of slum violence. Albert’s landlady beat her children regularly. Every Saturday her husband would come drunk and bear her. Albert felt ill at ease in such an atmosphere. His landlady asked him not to play his violin. It pained him much.

At school, he felt out of place. He was an intelligent student. However, he hated rote learning. His history teacher was offended with him for his views on education and his inability to learn dates and facts by heart. He called him a ‘disgrace’ to school. Except his mathematics teacher, nobody was happy with him.

Albert decided to quit. He got a medical certificate in order to remain away from school for some time. But the head teacher announced his expulsion from the school, it came as a welcome relief to him.

3. Who were Yuri and Elsa? What was their role in Albert’s life?

Ans. Albert Einstein led a pathetic life in Munich were he was sent to study in a school. Only his best friend Yuri consoled and encouraged him in his misery. Yuri was a sincere friend. He understood him very well. When Albert complained of violent atmosphere in the area, where he lived, he told him about the violence in the student’s hostel. When Albert expressed his desire to get a medical certificate, he referred to him to his doctor friend who gave him the desired certificate.

Yuri knew that Albert was impractical. So he advised him to take a letter of recommendation from the mathematics teacher before he met the head teacher.

Thus, Yuri proved to be the only silver lining in the dark, cloudy sky of Albert. When Albert was leaving, the only person he met was Yuri.

Elsa was Albert’s cousin. She lived in Berlin. She tried to encourage Albert in his worst days. She told him that if he could learn things by heart and repeat them in the examinations he could easily get his diploma.

4. Comment on the education system in Germany at the time when Albert was in Munich as a student.

Ans. Albert Einstein was sent to a Munich school to get a diploma. About that time Germany had a rigid, conventional system of education. Students and teachers were expected to fit in it. There was no room for original thinking or individual talent.

Rote learning was emphasized in schools. The young Einstein was expelled from the school as he did not like the way he was taught. He refused to learn dates and facts by heart. He was interested not in learning when the battles were fought but why the battles were fought. So his history teacher was irritated with him. He did not like his questioning nature.

Teachers and authorities discouraged original thinking and disliked any deviation from the trodden path. The head teacher expelled Albert, saying that he hindered the teaching and learning process by asking too many questions. He was called a rebel. It is strange that a genius like him was treated badly at school. It is a telling commentary on the system that failed to recognize individual brilliance, aptitude and aspirations.

Exam Questions from 2011 to 2024

1.What was Einstein idea of education? What kind of a student was he?     2011  2016     2018

2.Why and how did Albert decide to get rid of his school?          2012

3. What was the view of Elsa about Albert?         2014

4.Describe the circumstances leading to Albert getting a medical certificate issued declaring him unfit to continue school.          2015

5.What was the Mathematics teacher Koch’s opinion about Albert’s mathematical knowledge? 2015

6. “The school system often curbs individual talent” – Discuss with reference to Einstein’s experience at school.        2016     2018

7. What do you make of Einstein’s nature from his conversations with his history teacher, his mathematics teacher and the head teacher?           2017

8. Why does Einstein think that learning facts is no education at all?          2017

9. How does the example of Einstein prove that the school system ends up by curbing individual talent? 2017

10. How do you distinguish between information gathering and insight formation?          2018

11.“I think it’s not facts that matter, but ideas”. Evaluate briefly Albert Einstein’s concept of real education in the light of this statement           2019