Charlotte Mason isn’t a checklist or a curriculum you can pull off a shelf. It’s a philosophy, an approach to family and raising children, an approach to life. But how can you translate her ideas into concrete educational decisions (and life decisions)? Ms. Mason has a very succinct suggested analysis:
“Why must the children learn at all? What should they learn? And, how should they learn it?” Vol. 1, p171
Well now, isn’t that easy?
Ok no. The questions are quick, but the answers probably aren’t.
But at least it gives a framework to analyze decisions, and even to consider the CM approach itself. What do I want for my children? Based on what I know, what I see, and what I’ve researched, how do I think children learn? Especially those with ADHD, since statistically I will likely parent at least one ADHD kid. Once I have that as a baseline, what does CM say? Does that mesh with what I already know and/or believe?
Yes. So far, it’s like giving words to what I knew but couldn’t have said out loud. It just instinctively feels right. Except some of the weird Victorian health “science,” obviously.
Going forward, this set of questions can help me (and you, no matter which educational/parenting philosophy you follow) analyze new curricula, teaching styles, programs, extracurriculars, anything.
Short and sweet but cuts right to the heart of the matter of educating children.
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