subject: Momma - Mia What A Gift - Young Einstein Off To School - Chapter 2 [print this page] His father's gift had the young man enchanted from the day it was given to him until the much later years of his life. Pauline, his mother, also stirred the emotions of her son with a present that was not as attractive or mysterious as the first. She gave Albert a violin that of course even to this day is not that popular an instrument. He was also displeased with his mother for having enrolled him in formal musical instruction. This was a common theme of his life; if there was one thing you could say about Einstein it was that he was not one to adapt well to rigid rules and repetitive tasks. In spite of the displeasure that he received from these formalisms, the music brought a shower of tones and textures that soon delighted him.
It seemed to him that he could through the emotions of the piece find a unity in the cosmos. He was lifted up beyond himself to behold a new revelation of reality unexpected and unwanted at first, embraced and beloved at the end. The surreal feelings that he experienced in playing this most unwieldy of devices let him appreciate so much beauty in his surroundings and within himself. Later on in his life, he found that it was possible to recall these sentiments thereby clarifying his mind and opening new possibilities to attack unsolvable problems; apparently music had this effect on the mind of young Einstein.
It also permitted him to in many ways to remain a child at heart since it took him back to his younger years of home and hearth. The revolutionary changes in the foundations of physics awaited the budding scientist's enormous intellect. But before he graduated to the great complexities of general relativity, Albert would have to be schooled. After some time at the local elementary Roman Catholic School where he excelled even at the religious instruction offered, the young boy transferred to a local school more suited to his age. Entering Munich's Luitpold Gymnasium at an age of nine, young Einstein was schooled in the classics of languages and physical sciences.
At this point, we have arrived at a disputed part of his life and childhood: what was the real academic performance of relativity's future founder? There have been explorations of this area in the past that indicate a failing or mediocre student at best. There are many people who had quite the opposite opinion of him, remembering a top notch well rounded individual. This is a real dispute for many historians who I guess have too much free time on their hands. In spite of this debate, it is without doubt that he was a diligent young individual who did all he could to solve complex problems. In various subject matter, whether mathematical or not, he arduously sought to improve his understanding on many ideas as a winner should do.
But like all men of grand vision he was besieged by more mundane problems. In 1894, the family business received a sudden jolt of bad news; they had lost out on several contracts to light sections of Munich and other important locations. The Einsteins' brothers business was mortgaged to the hilt and it only took a few blows to bring it down. As a result, young Albert was obliged to leave the Luitpold Gymnasium for other parts. As he had always considered their educational program overly mechanical, he would not miss it much. The entire situation was not without benefit however, since he was thereby able to avoid compulsory service in the military. Joining the military was a prospect that he loathed with both fear and passion.
