Why Schools Don’t Nurture Einsteins, According to Albert Einstein

As school starts for millions of children around the world those who prefer to help their children learn at home and in their communities, or in alternative schools, can find solace in Albert Einstein’s summation of modern education.

“It is, in fact, nothing short of a miracle that the modern methods of instruction have not yet entirely strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry; for this delicate little plant, aside from stimulation, stands mainly in need of freedom; without this it goes to wreck and ruin without fail. It is a very grave mistake to think that the enjoyment of seeing and searching can be promoted by means of coercion and a sense of duty. To the contrary, I believe it would be possible to rob even a healthy beast of prey of its voraciousness, if it were possible, with the aid of a whip, to force the beast to devour continuously, even when not hungry, especially if the food, handed out under such coercion, were to be selected accordingly.”

Source: “Autobiographical Notes," in Albert Einstein: Philosopher–Scientist, Paul Schilpp, ed. (1951), pp. 17–19 © 1951 by the Library of Living Philosophers, Inc.