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I'm reading Einstein's Ideas and Opinions and wanted to share some quotes from this collection of his writings ans speeches.

In writing to a young girl who has written to him complaining of being passed over and "mistreated" by teachers because she does not conform to their idea of an ideal student:

"I suffered at the hands of my teachers a similar treatment...pocket your temperament and keep your manuscript for your sons and daughters, in order that they may derive consolation from it and----not give a damn for what their teachers tell them or think of them."

"Incidentally, I am only coming to Princeton to do research, not to teach. There is too much education altogether, especially in American schools. The only rational way of educating is to be an example ---if one can't help it, a warning example." 1934

An address delivered on the celebration of the tercentenary of higher education in America:

"Thus the wit was not wrong who defined education in this way: "Education is that which remains, if one has forgotten everything he learned in school."... I want to oppose the idea that the school has to teach directly that special knowledge and those accomplishments which one has to use later directly in life. The demands of life are much too manifold to let such a specialized training in school appear possible. Apart from that, it seems to me, moreover, objectionable to treat the individual like a dead tool. The school should always have as its aim that the young man leave it as a harmonious personality, not as a specialist...The development of general ability for independent thinking and judgement should always be placed foremost, not the acquisition of special knowledge. If a person masters the fundamentals of his subject and has learned to think and work independently, he will surely find his way and besides will be better able to adapt himself to progress and changes than the person whose training principally consists in the acquiring of detailed knowledge." 1950

And finally from the New York Times, October 5, 1952:

"It is also vital to a valuable education that independent critical thinking be developed...a development that is greatly jeopardized by overburdening him with too much and too varied subjects...Overburdening necessarily leads to superficiality. Teaching should be such that what is offered is perceived as a valuable gift and not as a hard duty."