ENGLISH Answer the Questions [S.U.][2 MARKS]

Learning the dates of battles or the details about victorious armies are facts. These details are part of knowledge which are content-based. There is no point in spending precious years of student life on information gathering because dates or facts could be ascertained from the books any time by just looking them up. Learning facts or parrot-like learning i.e., learning without understanding is what we call information gathering. Analysing the facts, ascertaining the causes that led to a certain incident such as an uprising or a war and learning the ideas that spring from such actions are part of insight information. It gives us a clear perception into the true nature of a thing. Such knowledge increases our logical reasoning, power of analysis interpretation and understanding and makes us think.

Albert Einstein’s miserable five years’ stay at school is a telling comment on the system of education prevailing then and existing even now. This system of education has no room for individual aspirations, brilliance or aptitude. It discourages genius and originality and encourages mechanical dullards or the so-called ‘average’ students. This system lays stress on facts and dates rather than ideas. It ignores originality and creativity, which lead to progress and development.
No wonder then that most of the students manage to pass the examination by cramming – learning things by heart and repeating it in the exams. This parrot-like learning or learning without understanding may help to get the diploma but fails to enrich the mind or inculcate ideas.
The teachers and authorities insist on discipline and conformity. The history teacher and the Headteacher are sticklers for rules, pedagogy and discipline. Brilliant students like Albert Einstein are considered dullard, stupid, incompetent, unfit rebels whose very presence makes it impossible for teachers to teach and other pupils to learn.

Exchanges between Einstein and History teacher show that Einstein is honest and truthful. He admits his shortcomings frankly. He has firm and well-defined opinions. He explains precisely what he thinks. Thus his basic intelligence, logical reasoning and lucid expression are highlighted. He showed the sparks of genius even at a young age. His maths teacher had a high opinion of him. He went to the extent of saying: “I can’t teach you more, and probably you’ll soon be able to teach me.” When Albert said that it was excessive praise, the teacher acknowledged that it was only the truth. He made the point by saying that Albert was ready immediately to enter a college or institute for the study of higher mathematics. Albert himself said, “I’ve learnt all the maths, they teach at school and a bit more.” The headteacher told Albert that he was expelling him from school because his presence in the classroom made it impossible for the teacher to teach and other pupils to learn. No serious work could be done while he was in the class. Albert refused to learn and he was in constant rebellion. For a moment Albert felt tempted to tell the headteacher what he thought of him and his school. Then he stopped himself. He didn’t say even a single word. Holding his head high, he went out with a sense of pride. Thus, he had a lot of self-control. Albert was not at all impolite. He addressed his teachers respectfully and answered the questions honestly.

Mr Braun asked Albert in which year the Prussians defeated the French at Waterloo. Albert told him that he didn’t know. Mr Braun said that he had told them so many times. Albert told him that he saw no point in learning dates. These could be seen in books. This made him speechless.

If I were the Principal of Albert’s school, I would bring In drastic changes. I have a clear concept of education. For me. education means drawing out the best in the student. I’ll help to develop an individual’s personality by encouraging the budding talent. I know that all are not cast In the same mould. Our old system talks of uniformity and average student level. These are abstract principles. Education will focus on individual’s aptitude and talent. There will be no cramming of facts, dates or multiplication tables. The audiovisual devices will be used as aids to learning. Computer will supplement knowledge. I will provide more facilities for self-expression. The atmosphere of the school will be relaxed. I’ll act as a father figure – a friend, philosopher and guide rather than a tormentor. hope to inculcate values through examples of personal conduct.

Albert wanted to remain away from the school. He got a medical certificate from Dr Ernest Well. It was certified that he had a nervous breakdown. So he must stay away from school. He wanted to see the headteacher. Next day the headteacher called Albert to his office. He told Albert that his work was terrible. So he was not prepared to have him in the school. Albert asked if he should think he was to be expelled. The headteacher told him that if be left the school of his own accord, the question wouldn’t arise. Albert asked what crime he had committed. The headteacher told him that the teacher couldn’t teach the class when he was in It. In his presence, the pupils coúldni learn. Albert wanted to tell the headteacher what he thought of him and the school, but he didn’t say anything. The headteacher asked him to close the door behind him. But Albert didn’t do so. Nor did he have the last look at his school. He met only Yuri.

Mr Koch was Albert’s Maths teacher. He was genuinely interested in Albert. Yuri told Albert to get a written reference from him. He willingly gave Albert the reference he wanted. He made it clear that Albert was ready to enter a college or institute for the study of higher mathematics. Mr Koch regretted that Albert was leaving the school. His logic was correct. A reference is usually asked when one leaves. Albert is puzzled. There are more surprises In-store for Albert. He is summoned by the headteacher before Albert’s request for Interview. The headteacher does not want Albert to stay there any longer. Perhaps the issue might have figured In the staff council. The Maths teacher was discreet. He did not reveal the confldentìal discussion. He gave plausible reasons for his observation.

Albert had told his father to take him away from the school. However, his father insisted that he should obtain a diploma first. Hence, he was unwilling to take Albert away from school. For Albert, staying at that school meant wastage of time and money. One day, he had a bright idea. He asked Yuri if he knew some friendly doctor. He could say that Albert suffered from nervous breakdown. The doctor would certify that the disease was ‘bad for him to go to school’. They had to find a specialist in nerves. Albert began to look nervous and lost his high spirite Yuri fixed appointment with Dr Ernest Weil and asked Albert to tell him the truth. Albert was frank and truthful. He could enter some Italian college or institution at Milan without diploma. The doctor issued a certificate advising him rest for six months. The certificate proved useless as the headteacher was bent on expelling Albert.

Yuri performs an important function in young Albert’s life. He is the friend, philosopher and guides for Albert. He is in fact Albert’s confidant. He has won the love and trust of Albert to such an extent that he confides his miseries, problems and plans with him. Yuri is the only person in Munich that Albert likes. Yuri lives among poor students who frequently indulge in fighting duels. Yuri helps Albert in his plans to obtain a medical certificate of nervous breakdown advising rest for six months. He introduces Albert to Dr Ernest Weil and asks Albert to be frank with him. Dr Weil turns out to be a sympathetic soul and issues him the much-needed certificate. Yuri again guides the course of Albert’s ship of life. He advises Albert to obtain a written reference from the mathematics teacher before seeing the headteacher. Albert follows his advice faithfully. The certificate, however, proves useless because the headteacher has already decided to expel Albert for his undesirable activities. This, however, does not diminish Yuri’s role in Albert’s life. He is like a pillar of strength to the miserable young Albert in a foreign land.

Two factors made Einstein’s life in Munich miserable. These were his school and residential environment. The school was a hateful place. He had many bad days when he got punishment. He hated going back to school, but he had no option. He wishes that his father would take him away. However, he was forced to stay there and obtain diploma. Einstein found the system of education uninspiring and the teachers, unsympathetic. He had his lodging in the poorest quarters of Munich. The food was bad. Lack of comfort, dirt and squalor made his life miserable. The atmosphere of slum violence was oppressive. The landlady would beat her children. Her husband would come home on Saturdays. He would get drunk and beat his wife. Albert found young students fighting duels and killing others. The scars on the face were badges of honour for the victors.

This extract mentions only two of the teachers of young Einstein. They are Mr. Braun – the history teacher and Mr Koch-the mathematics teacher. The former was not at all interested in understanding Albert and bringing out his potential. He followed the traditional methods and philosophy of education which laid more stress on acquisition of knowledge. Dates and facts were more important to him than the causes which led to the events. Secondly, he had a sarcastic attitude and mocking tone towards Einstein. Instead of helping the development of a talented boy, he complained to the headteacher and got him expelled.
Mr Koch appreciated Einstein’s genius and had a good opinion of him. But he too was confined to his subject and didn’t take interest in the real person. All this was because of the curriculum centred approach.

Albert hoped to get a testimonial from his mathematics teacher about his work. He had learnt all the maths that is taught at school and a bit more. He hoped that this certificate would help him to get admission to an Italian college without a diploma from the German school.

Albert declared humorously that he was going to have a real nervous breakdown. It would make it easier for the doctor to certify his illness. The next time Yuri saw Albert; he found that the latter had lost his high spirits. Albert confirmed that he would really have a nervous breakdown which would satisfy any doctor.

The history teacher felt amazed as well as annoyed at Albert’s stubbornness. It was because Albert challenged all the established norms of attaining knowledge. Modem students do not agree with the history teacher’s view. Education is not a mere acquisition of certain facts and their verbatim reproduction.

Mr Braun, the history teacher laid stress on learning dates and facts. He repeated them often enough for his students to learn them. Young Albert Einstein was found wanting. He didn’t know in what year the Prussians defeated the French at Waterloo. Albert frankly admitted that he didn’t know. He said that he didn’t even try to learn dates. He claimed that he couldn’t see any point in learning dates. One can always look them up in a book. The teacher felt angry as well as amazed at Albert’s stubbornness. The boy insisted that learning facts is not education. Mr. Braun then sarcastically asked Albert to tell the class the Einstein theory of education. Albert said that ideas are more important than facts. Instead of learning the dates of battles or which of the armies killed more men, he would be more interested in learning why those soldiers were trying to kill each other.
Mr Braun felt exasperated. His eyes were cold and cruel. He punished Albert by making him stay in for an extra period that day. He had a low opinion of Einstein and called him ‘a disgrace’. He wondered why he continued to come to school. Albert politely replied that it was not his wish. Mr Braun angrily called him ‘an ungrateful boy who ought to be ashamed of himself. He suggested that the boy should ask his father to take him away.

• These words are taken from the lesson ‘Albert Einstein at School in Germany’ by Patrick Pringle. The above words are spoken by the Einstein to his mathematics teacher, Mr. Koch. The maths teacher gave a glowing reference to Einstein which could help him to enter a college or institute for higher studies in mathematics.
• The teacher apologetically told him that he was sorry that Einstein was leaving but he knew that Einstein knew much more than the syllabus so in fact he was really wasting his time. At that time Einstein informed him that the mathematics class was the only class where he found himself comfortable and did not waste his time.

• These words are taken from the lesson ‘Albert Einstein at School in Germany’ by Patrick Pringle. The above words are spoken by the head teacher to Einstein.
• After his meeting with Mr. Koch, Einstein found that he was summoned to the head teacher's room for an interview with the head teacher.
• He was shocked to find out that the management in fact wanted him to leave so that they would not be forced to take any action against him. Einstein informed him that he was going to leave the school in any way so the head teacher informed him that they seem to be in agreement at least on this point. Einstein walked out without a word.

• These words are taken from the lesson ‘Albert Einstein at School in Germany’ by Patrick Pringle. The above lines are spoken by Yuri to Albert Einstein when he had contacted a doctor to get Einstein a certificate of leave of absence.
• Einstein wanted to take a break from school so he wanted a doctor to certify that he needed medical leave because of a nervous breakdown.
• Yuri told Einstein that he had a meeting for the next day with a doctor but warned him that he should not try to put wool over the doctor's eyes instead he should be frank with him and tell him the truth that he needed a break.

• These words are taken from the lesson ‘Albert Einstein at School in Germany’ by Patrick Pringle. Albert Einstein spoke these words to Mr. Braun who taught history at the school in Germany.
• One day the teacher asked Einstein to tell him the year when the Prussians defeated the French at Waterloo and Einstein could not reply. The teacher and Einstein had an argument because Einstein told him that he did not feel the need to learn dates.
• They could be looked up whenever required. He also informed the teacher that he did not believe that learning facts was Education at all.

• Albert Einstein could not settle in the German school and the only subject he wanted to learn was mathematics. So he wanted to leave the school but his father would not agree so he decided to take a break on medical ground.
• He also decided that he would take a reference from his mathematics teacher Mr. Koch for his work as he was much ahead of all the students and had already completed mathematics study at the school level, he was sure that his teacher would give him a reference which would help him.

• Yuri was a friend of Einstein at the German school. He was the only student who kept him company and was the moral force due to which Einstein was able to continue in the German school. Albert felt that he was living in a more horrible place than Yuri.
• Yuri explained to him that at least he had his own room and did not have to live with the students who indulged in violence. When Albert wanted to take a break from school, which he had developed a hatred for and go back to Italy to meet his parents, Yuri helped him.
• Einstein needed a certificate from a doctor to prove that he had a nervous breakdown and required a break from school. Yuri went and talked to one of his medical friends who had freshly passed out as a doctor to help Einstein to get the required medical certificate.
• Many times Albert felt that it was because of Yuri that he managed to last out at the school he hated most. Yuri was happy for him when Einstein left for Italy and wished him all the good luck to have a happier life there.

• Mr. Braun the history teacher scolded and told Einstein that he was a disgrace to the school and it was better for him to discontinue being a student.
• Einstein too did not want to continue as a student but he knew that his father would not take him back to Italy unless he completed his diploma. When he went back to his lodging, he felt worst because the place where he put up was of a poor quarter of Munich.
• He did not mind the bad food, lack of comfort and dirt but he hated the slum violence and his landlady regularly beat her children and every Saturday her husband would come to the home drunk and beat her up He found this atmosphere much uncivilized and he preferred to move away but he know that his father could not afford to put him up at any other place.

• When Albert Einstein was in school he did not like the routine work in school. He was not happy learning the dates of history. Mr. Braun, the history teacher asked the students the dates of various events in history.
• Einstein saw no point in remembering them. So he and Mr. Braun never got along. The teacher informed him that he should remember the dates, more so because they had been so often repeated in class.
• Einstein told him that if he wanted to remember any date he could easily open a book to remember them. The history teacher therefore did not like him and scolded him in front of the class. The teacher's eyes were cruel and cold towards Einstein and he often went to the extent of telling Einstein that he was a disgrace to the school and should not continue his study. So Einstein did not like to attend his classes.