The university scientist, who is doing research in understanding the complexities of the world, needs interaction with high school students in order to clarify his/her thoughts. I would like to talk about the field that I know, my field, which is theoretical physics. Consider the case of Albert Einstein, on of the greatest physicists of the 20th century. Einstein developed his Special Theory of Relativity while working as a patient examiner. However, before this, he was a high school tutor. I feel that the high school experience focused his mind, so that he later on was able to develop his profound physics theories.

 

During the last decades of his life, Einstein was at the Institute for Advanced Studies at Princeton, NJ. Here he spent all his time on research, without any interaction with young students. He did not contribute any more great ideas to physics. It could be that the lack of interaction with the youth caused this lack.

 

Professors need to know how to interact with students. High schools are more intolerant of bad teaching than universities. A professor will not be able to get away with nonsense that he/she would be able to get away with at a university. For a person to be a good college teacher it is essential to be able to communicate with high school students.

 

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