why did einstein refuse to learn dates and facts?

The school system is often found to curb individual talent. This is because the pressure of following a set curriculum and prescribed syllabus means a lack of time for encouraging students to express their creativity and give full space to their imagination. There is no time to try things outside the syllabus, there is immense stress laid on scoring well and rote learning rather than acquiring knowledge. As Albert Einstein observes in the story that it is all about factual knowledge that does not really benefit us. He believed that education should be about advancement of learning and lead us to enquire and think further. The atmosphere in the school is mainly characterised by a pressure to conform rather than think independently. Albert thought that teachers were supposed to show the path of enlightenment to the student and not cram their heads with irrelevant factual information. The respect that a teacher deserves should stem from the display of his competency and ability to motivate students. Hence he refused to learn dates and facts for merely passing an examination.