Charlotte Mason & others
For 2 reasons I have been spending time studying educational methods. Firstly, I enjoy the topic immensely. Secondly, I am preparing to -gulp!- not enroll our eldest son for kindergarten. I gather ideas primarily from other homeschooling moms, particularly those with joyful, delightful children.
I am currently reading about the educational philosophy of Charlotte Mason. The only relevant book carried by my local library is the Charlotte Mason Companion, by Karen Andreola. So far, I am very impressed by what I have read. Here’s a favorite quote by Mason:
To bring the human race, family by family, child by child, out of the savage and inhuman desolation where He is not, into the light and warmth and comfort of the presence of God, is no doubt, the chief thing we have to do in the world.
The more I have read about Montessori for early ages (i.e., 3-6), the more I liked what I read. As the boys grow older, though, I intend to lean towards a more classical educational style such as the one presented in the Well-Trained Mind, although with a more Catholic emphasis, as shown in the Mother of Divine Grace curricula. I like what I’ve read about the Kolbe Academy.
A privilege I will have as a home-schooling mother is to pick and choose what I like from different methods. The Charlotte Mason ideas I think will work well. There is no grading. No busy work. No fill-in-the-blanks. No “home-work” (or evening work) for kids younger than 13. A ton of time outdoors, observing creation. Reading entire books, not condensed versions or sample chapters or short stories put together by textbook committees.
One trend I’ve noticed in all the theories I’ve considered so far is that they are strongly focused on the mother-child relationship. [Obviously. Most dads are out working in the mornings when most education takes place.] But with 3 rambunctious boys and a father with an intensely engineering-oriented mind, I know that my husband will play a significant role in our children’s education, whether we home school or not. I will need to “make room” for the unique contributions that he can make.
