Ed Schweber (edschweb@ix.netcom.com)
Physics Teacher at The Solomon Schechter Day School, West Orange, NJ
To obtain free resources for creative physics teachers visit: http://www.physicsweb.com
-----Original Message-----
Hi:
Here is another Einstein quote - similar to the one Ludwik posted - but
from much later in Einstein's life and somewhat more pithy. It comes from
Einstein's "Autobiographical Notes" which were included in a collection of
essays in honor of Einstein's 70th birthday (Albert Einstein: Philosopher
Scientist, Paul Schilpp editor, Harper and Row, p 17) I am surprised it
isn't quoted more often -especially by students to their teachers.
"...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 that 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. ---"