Who Was Charlotte Mason?
After a decade teaching English school children, Charlotte Mason developed ideas about education that were in conflict with the prevailing views of the 1800s. At that time, education was tied to social class so that poor children were taught trades while wealthy children learned arts and literature.
Charlotte's "liberal" view was that all children deserved to learn the full curriculum. Charlotte was able to develop her ideas at Bishop Otter Teacher Training College where she first lectured about "Home Education."
She strongly believed that parents could be more supportive of children's education if they understood more about the process. In 1891 at age 50, she formed the House of Education in Ambleside, England where she trained nannies and others who taught children.
She also formed the Parents' Education Union for people who believed in her open access educational philosophy. From that group, a school emerged which taught according to Charlotte's beliefs.
The college changed its name to Charlotte Mason College as a memorial. After her death, some of Charlotte's finest writings were published - including Parents and Children, Formation of Character and A Philosophy of Education.
These works live long beyond her productive life, effectively carrying on her mission to provide "a liberal education for all children." Many homeschool families today use Charlotte Mason's philosophies to educate their own children.
Great Charlotte Mason Resources for Homeschoolers!
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What Is the Charlotte Mason Style of Homeschooling?
Charlotte Mason championed the right of every child to receive an education based on broad curriculum, not social status. In the 1800s, her educational views were considered "liberal" compared with the practices of the time.Her philosophy of education was clearly stated in eighteen principles. Among those principles was her belief that "Education is the science of relations." She also used mottos to teach.
Her most important motto for her students was "I am, I can, I ought, I will." This effort to instill positive self-esteem in all students was definitely radical because she saw her students as people in a time when children were viewed as possessions much like cattle or property.
Charlotte's style for homeschooling is based on her principles - particularly, "Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life." Even the expensive education of wealthy children was rigorous, systematic and intense.
Charlotte's method was flexible and encouraging so that all children, particularly younger children, would come to love - not merely endure - their education. Parents were certainly surprised when Charlotte Mason sought to involve them in their childrens' learning, whereas the classical models discouraged parental input.She also sought texbooks by others than the recognized authorities. For Charlotte Mason, education was done with "living textbooks" which were written by armchair experts as well as academics.
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Important Philosophies by Charlotte Mason
A mild-manner schoolteacher who genuinely cared about children shook the established classical education systems in England. Charlotte Mason looked at education as a means of engaging each child's interest in learning, a philosophy that was radical by 19th century standards.Her teaching methods offended the social class-based educational establishment, but gave parents an exciting new view of opportunities for their children. Among her "liberal" philosophies were:
Using living textbooks written by armchair experts, not just academics, to engage interest with excitement about knowledge. By contrast, "Twaddle" was rejected as any textbook that dumbed down information and bored children.Habit training helped children learn self-governance by practicing truthfulness, obedience, kindness, neatness, cleanliness and respect for others.Short lessons of fifteen minutes on one subject were used for young children. With older children, the lesson time increased, but still several subjects were covered in a school day.Narration is asking children talk about the reading or lesson. This is an early development of critical thinking.Diction was used to practice grammar, teach spelling and capitalization.Art Appreciation, Nature Study and Poetry added beauty to the curriculum.
Math was to be taught with manipulatives as well as paper and pencil so that children could grasp the concept not just problem solve.These are some of Charlotte Mason's bold ideas, which are highly regarded in today's homeschool education community.
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A great article about HomeSchooling
Homeschooling or homeschool (also called home education or home learning) is the education of children at home, typically by parents but sometimes by tutors, rather than in a formal setting of public or private school. Although prior to the introduction of compulsory school attendance laws, most childhood education occurred within the family or community,A. Distefano, K. E. Rudestam, R. J. Silverman (2005) Encyclopedia of Distributed Learning (p221) ISBN 0761924515 homeschooling in the modern sense is an alternative in developed countries to formal education.
Homeschooling is a legal option in many places for parents to provide their children with a learning environment as an alternative to publicly-provided schools. Parents cite numerous reasons as motivations to homeschool, including better academic test results, poor public school environment, improved character/morality development, and objections to what is taught locally in public school. It may be a factor in the choice of parenting style. It is also an alternative for families living in isolated rural locations or living temporarily abroad.
Homeschooling may also refer to instruction in the home under the supervision of correspondence schools or umbrella schools. In some places, an approved curriculum is legally required if children are to be home-schooled. A curriculum-free philosophy of homeschooling may be called unschooling, a term coined in 1977 by American educator John Holt in his magazine Growing Without Schooling.
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