Yes, Thomas Edison did drop out of school. He was only 7 years old when he was taken out of the formal education system. His mother, who was a teacher, decided to homeschool him after he struggled to adjust to the traditional schooling environment. Edison’s teachers found him a little difficult to manage and labeled him as ‘difficult’ or ‘not smart’ which contributed to his early exit from school.
Edison’s unorthodox education led him to explore his interests independently. He became an avid reader and pursued experiments that fascinated him. This non-traditional path allowed him to cultivate his creativity and problem-solving skills, which ultimately contributed to his success as an inventor and businessman. Despite the challenges he faced, Edison’s ability to self-educate and his relentless pursuit of knowledge played a significant role in his groundbreaking work.