The Dull Boy

Once upon a time in a remote town of Germany, there lived a boy, age 12. He was medium-built and fair-skinned. 

Being an introvert, he preferred to remain all alone, most of the time. Even in his school, he was alone most of the time, with no friends around. He was weak in his studies, especially in Mathematics. His mathematics teacher once decided to make him learn a lesson in arithmetic. He tried really hard and remained patient for 2 weeks to teach him some basics of arithmetic and algebra. 

But despite his continuous efforts, the teacher discovered that the boy had learnt nothing... absolutely nothing. So the teacher got irritated. He decided to punish the boy for not working hard enough to learn his mathematics, by making him stand up on the bench. 

The boy reluctantly agreed and stood up on the bench. All his classmates gazed at him and started laughing at him. 

After 15 minutes, he got upset and asked the teacher if he could sit down on the bench, promising the latter that he will be ready with all what was needed on the next day. The teacher, who was light-hearted guy agreed and allowed him to sit on the bench now, thinking that the punishment of standing on the bench was severe enough for the boy to start learning his mathematics intensely. 

However, to his disappointment, it was NOT enough. On the next day, the boy again could not answer most of the questions posed to him, by the Maths teacher. When asked as to why he was unable still, he politely replied, "Sir, I have tried pretty hard. But I don't know why I can't still answer them correctly! I am so sorry...." This answer was enough for the teacher to come to the conclusion that the boy, with whom he was dealing with over the last few months, was a really dumb child. Nothing could be done about him, as far as his maths education was concerned. It would be advisable for his daddy to lift him out of the school and send him to do a job of running errands. So he called the parents of the kid. 

In a rather sad tone he told the boy's father, "Sir, I am the Mathematics teacher, who has been trying to teach maths to your kid. Despite my severe efforts over the last few months, he is not able to learn the subject. That's because his grasping power is very weak. It's not the case that he is lazy. No.....he is not lazy. He is a pretty calm, decent, introvert kid. But because of his low memory and a very poor grasping ability, he is not able to remember whatever he needs to! I am sorry to tell you that he doesn't deserve any further education, especially in comparatively difficult subjects like Mathematics and Science. He is wasting his time in school, in fact. I advise to either transfer him to  a new school or just stop his education completely and send him to do some job, suitable for a small kid of his age. He is simply wasting his time here and in the process, sir, you are wasting your hard-earned money...!"

The father of the boy, looked at the teacher with intense eyes. It was as if he was trying to come to some conclusion. "Okay, dear teacher! You are right. I agree to your point that my boy is not good enough to continue studies in this school. 

So I am lifting him off the school with immediate effect. Thanks for all the hard work you have been putting into, for making him learn Mathematics." Saying these words, the father left the school premises, alongwith his son and headed back straight towards their home. 

Once at home, the father reprimanded his son for not being able to come up to the expectations of his Mathematics teacher, very heavily: "Your mother and myself are giving you every possible facility so that you can learn your school subjects properly. Still you are not able to cope up with other boys of your school...it's such a shame for me! You know what? You are "a Dull Boy"...nothing more...you are a useless DULL BOY....!" Those last words that came out of his mouth were very emphatic, as he pronounced them very loud. 

His wife, the mother of the boy, came rushing through: "Why are you shouting so much on him? Why is he back home so early? What's wrong? Please tell me everything...." 

"Look at your prince...his Mathematics teacher called me to the school and told me that despite his severe hard work for several months, this idiot is unable to learn any thing at all! So finally your son has been kicked out of his school, because of extremely poor performance in his mathematics subject...I don't know what should we do with this fool now...." said the father, who still looked very angry on the boy. 

The mother yet looked composed. She drew herself near to his father. She took his left hand in her hands and said: "Be patient please...we shall fight this situation and emerge victorious. Don't worry...our God is with us, Jesus Christ is with us...He will make us find a way..." 

"Let us give him education at home, instead." She continued: "I am pretty sure, he will study far better at home than at school."

 "Won't you, my dear son? Won't you do that one thing for me?" With these words she turned towards her son. All this while, the boy had been standing there quite, listening to all the bitter words of his daddy. Now he couldn't control himself. He started crying: "Mom, I am trying very hard to mug up all those complicated formulae of mathematics but I am not bring able to do so still...what should I do then?" With those words he started crying loudly and intensely. 

It was now clear to both his parents that there was no lack of intention on behalf of their son. He was infact, trying really hard. But somehow, he was not able to grasp and mug those mathematics formulae, which made him look so weak in the subject. So finally they decided to give him "home education."

They hired teachers for all subjects and have him personal tuitions at home. They were very careful about selecting his Mathematics teacher however. 

After a few months, the boy started scoring better marks! Within a year his percentage grew from around 30 to 80+! It was a miracle...!!!!

The boy then maintained his level of 70+ in percentage throughout the rest of his educational career. He graduated with a distinction. Later he developed very special interest in the subject called "Physics". He discovered "the Photoelectric Effect" for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics! As per the photoelectric effect, the light from the sun rays could be converted into electrical energy!! 

He also gave 2 very profound scientific theories to the world - the General Theory of Relativity and "the Special Theory of Relativity."

Later on in his life, he migrated from Germany to the United States of America, in 1933, in order to avoid being tortured by the atrocious Nazis of the then German dictator, Adolf Hitler. His name became synonymous with Science after 1945! As of today he is considered to be the greatest Scientist to walk on our planet! 

Yes, you guessed it right. That boy was none other than Albert Einstein!! 

The moral of the story: Never give up. Though Einstein was a very weak student in Mathematics initially, his continuous hard work and patience helped him eliminate all his weaknesses completely. He was able to graduate in the very same field, which was once considered "impossible" for him. Not only that he was able to formulate and establish several mathematical equations, all by himself. Upon proving those equations, he gained immense popularity as "a true genius" in the field of Science. 

Consistent Perseverance, persistent efforts and Patience can solve all your problems!!!