For the Children’s Sake
Not knowing very much about Charlotte Mason before reading this book (although hearing quite a lot!) I was curious to know what all the “fuss” was about. Crossway was kind enough to re-release this title and so I figured I would take the opportunity to learn more about Ms. Mason.
The core, foundational argument for Mason’s teaching was to recognize that children were people too. I wrote recently that one of the things I loved about the show Reading Rainbow is that host LeVar Burton never talks down to his audience but talks to them in an engaging way, assuming that they can comprehend what he is saying. Ms. Mason would have been a fan of Burton, me thinks! Her argument was that we should talk children up, assuming that they can process the information we’re giving them, and encourage them to greater heights by assuming the best of them.
As for the structure of the schooling – be it home, private, public, etc. – that was not so much a concern of Mason’s as was the fact that children be free to explore the world around them and not be locked into systems of “order” for the majority of the day. There’s a world outside and she thought it good that they explore it.
Charlotte Mason also argued that children will learn best from relationships that matter to them, if they believe that a relationship with them is equally important and valid. Maccaulay writes the following in explanation:
“Sadly, our fast-moving generation is often so involved in the rat race that this gentle art of understanding, appreciating, and loving the child never has a chance to be practiced by mother, father, or anyone else. We have to set our priorities straight.” (page 49)
Macaulay argues, using Mason’s philosophy, that the best way to educate a child, to foster a spirit of learning, independence and value (aka “self esteem”) in a youngster is to learn what their needs are, individually, and to develop a relationship with them. In knowing the child and by having the child know that s/he is important, their chances for success are higher. This makes sense when you think of how we as adults like to be treated. When someone notices our efforts, we are apt to drive ourselves harder, to be “better” in the eyes of others. I know I am motivated to learn when I know that I’m going to be placed before others and expected to share anything of wisdom and knowledge. The same is true for children – care and they will grow. Know them and they will strive to succeed.
There is a great deal of meat in this book that needs to be processed a bit and I hardly feel like I’m doing the book justice in this little review. To sum it up: the thing I liked and appreciated best about the arguments that this book makes is that it declares that parents can know their children better than anyone else. That is a fact that I think is very true and should make parents everywhere (mainly myself!) aware of the great burden of responsibility – and joy! – that they have in raising children.
To learning how to be a better parent!
Carrie
Carrie comes by her book obsession honestly, having descended from a long line of bibliophiles. She blogs about books regularly at Reading to Know and Reading My Library.
Hi frank Schaeffer here: Susan is my sister, not my daughter. Her dad, and mine, was Francis Schaeffer author and theologian who died in 1984. But thanks for the review of my sister’s terrific book.
I really appreciate this book’s premise.
Thanks for the review.
This is on my list to read. I like a lot of Charlotte Mason’s ideas and hope to use more of them as my kids get older. I really like the idea that learning is a lifestyle, not something confined to the hours dedicated to school.