My dear Albert,
Yesterday I received your dear letter and was very happy with it. I was already afraid you wouldn’t write to me at all any more. You told me when I was in Zurich, that it is awkward for you when I come to Zurich. Therefore I think it is better if we get together in a different place, where nobody will interfere with our comfort. I will in any case urge that each year we spend a whole month together, so that you see that you have a father who is fond of you and who loves you. You can also learn many good and beautiful things from me, something another cannot as easily offer you. What I have achieved through such a lot of strenuous work shall not only be there for strangers but especially for my own boys. These days I have completed one of the most beautiful works of my life, when you are bigger, I will tell you about it.
I am very pleased that you find joy with the piano. This and carpentry are in my opinion for your age the best pursuits, better even than school. Because those are things which fit a young person such as you very well. Mainly play the things on the piano which please you, even if the teacher does not assign those. That is the way to learn the most, that when you are doing something with such enjoyment that you don’t notice that the time passes. I am sometimes so wrapped up in my work that I forget about the noon meal. . . .
Be with Tete kissed by your
Papa.
Regards to Mama.
I am, for some reason, very interested in the life of Einstein and have read several books about him...this may make me a nerd, but I keep going back! At any rate, perhaps we share the same love of knowledge and that is why I am drawn to him. Your post of his letter to his son seems to sum up much of his personality. I have noticed even through doing this program that I am a lot less aware of the time that passes (and my husband would definitely agree!). I guess that it a good sign that I am following a passion.
ReplyDeleteAs I said in my last response, I think the idea of un-structuring learning to enable students to find their passion, or at least progress at their own pace, could change students' perceptions about education. Learning should be seen as a life long endeavor and not something that is forced or unnecessarily unpleasant. I believe with the advent of many of technological tools we have even discussed thus far in class, and their incorporation into the school system, there could be a significant change. I hope we are at a tipping point in our educational system that may shift our concept of school and learning in different direction.