On Education + 

The Yard Porter is cleaning the handles of the doors. Katia, a girl of seven, is building a house with blocks. Nicholas, a schoolboy of fifteen, enters with a book and throws it angrily on the floor. + 

Nicholas + 

To the devil with that damned school! + 

Porter + 

What is the matter with it? + 

Nicholas + 

Again a bad mark. That means more new trouble. Damn it all! What do I want their cursed geography for? California⁠—why is it necessary to know about California? + 

Porter + 

What will they do to you? + 

Nicholas + 

They will keep me another year in that same old class. + 

Porter + 

Then why don’t you learn your lessons? + 

Nicholas + 

Why? Because I can’t learn the stupid things. Damn it all! Throwing himself on a chair. I’ll go and tell mother. I’ll tell her I can’t do it. Let them do whatever they like but I can’t do it. And if after that she doesn’t take me out of school I will run away from home. I swear I will. + 

Porter + 

But where will you go? + 

Nicholas + 

Just away. I will look out for a place as a coachman, or a yard porter. Anything is better than having to learn that cursed nonsense. + 

Porter + 

But to be a yard porter is not an easy job either, I can tell you. A porter has to get up early, chop wood, carry it in, make fires⁠— + 

Nicholas + 

Whew! Whistles. But that is like a holiday. I love chopping wood. I simply adore it. No, that would not stop me. No, you just try what it is to learn geography. + 

Porter + 

You’re right there. But why do you learn it? What use is it to you? Is it that they make you do it? + 

Nicholas + 

I wish I knew why. It is of no use whatever. But that’s the rule. They think one cannot do without it. + 

Porter + 

I dare say it is necessary for you in order to become an official, to get honours, high appointments, like your father and uncle. + 

Nicholas + 

But since I don’t care for all that. + 

Katia + 

Since he does not care! + 

Enter Mother, with a letter in her hand. + 

Mother + 

I have just heard from the director of the school that you have got a bad mark again. That won’t do, Nikolenka. It must be one thing or the other: learn or not learn. + 

Nicholas + 

I’ll stick to the one: I cannot, I cannot, I cannot learn. For God’s sake, let me go. I cannot learn. + 

Mother + 

You cannot learn? + 

Nicholas + 

I cannot. It won’t get into my head. + 

Mother + 

That is because your head is full of nonsense. Don’t think about all your stupid things, but concentrate your mind on the lessons you have to learn. + 

Nicholas + 

Mother, I am talking seriously. Take me away from school. I wish for nothing else in the world but to get rid of that dreadful school, of that treadmill! I can’t stand it. + 

Mother + 

But what would you do out of school? + 

Nicholas + 

That is my own business. + 

Mother + 

It is not your own business, but mine. I have to answer to God for you. I must give you an education. + 

Nicholas + 

But since I cannot. + 

Mother + 

Severely. What nonsense to say you cannot. For the last time, I will speak to you like a mother. I beseech you to mend your ways and to do what is required of you. If you will not obey me this time I shall take other measures. + 

Nicholas + 

I tell you, I cannot and I will not learn. + 

Mother + 

Take care, Nicholas. + 

Nicholas + 

Why should I take care? Why do you torture me? Don’t you see you do! + 

Mother + 

I forbid you to speak like that. How dare you! Go away! You will see⁠— + 

Nicholas + 

Very well⁠—I will go. I am not afraid of whatever comes, and I don’t want anything from you. Dashes out of the room and bangs the door. + 

Mother + 

To herself. How unhappy he makes me. I know exactly how it has all come about. It is all because he does not think about the things he ought to do, and his head is full of nothing but his own stupid interests, his dogs, and his hens. + 

Katia + 

But, mother, you remember the tale you told me: how impossible it is not to think about the white polar bear when you are told not to. + 

Mother + 

I am not speaking of that; I say a boy has to learn when he is told to. + 

Katia + 

But he says he cannot. + 

Mother + 

That’s nonsense. + 

Katia + 

But he does not say he is not willing to do any work whatever. He only objects to learning geography. He wants to work, to be a coachman, a yard-porter. + 

Mother + 

If he had been a yard-porter’s son he might become one himself. But being your father’s son he must learn. + 

Katia + 

But he does not want to. + 

Mother + 

Whether he wants to or not he must obey. + 

Katia + 

And if he simply cannot learn? + 

Mother + 

Take care that you are not like him yourself. + 

Katia + 

That’s just what I want to be. I shall not, on any condition, learn what I do not wish to. + 

Mother + 

Then you will grow up a fool. + 

Katia + 

And when I am grown up, and have children, I will never compel them to learn. If they want to they may learn, if not, let them do without learning. + 

Mother + 

When you are grown up, you will be sure to have changed your mind. + 

Katia + 

I shall certainly not. + 

Mother + 

You will. + 

Katia + 

No, I shall not, I shall not. + 

Mother + 

Then you will be a fool. + 

Katia + 

Nurse says God wants fools also. + 