I’m just a lech lecha kind of girl trying to navigate life and parenthood. Maybe one day I’ll even adult.
Skylar: an orthodox Jewish convert from the Bible Belt but now in New York, 2 kidlets, a frum-from-birth husband, books, and my misadventures learning about nature. But a lot of books. I’m partial to the educational philosophy of Charlotte Mason, a Victorian Christian (Anglican). It’s primarily considered a homeschooling philosophy, but she intended for her philosophy to be used with all children, whether homeschooled or in a traditional classroom. It’s an approach to life and knowledge that anyone can incorporate into their own life. And while she came from a Christian context, it’s incredibly in tune with Modern Orthodoxy (and Judaism generally).
So what is the Charlotte Mason philosophy on life and education? Here’s a basic definition from the most common CM-specific homeschool curriculum (and it’s free!):
“The child is an individual made in the image of God, and he has a right to know and experience a variety of things, not for the purpose of making him suitable for some future employment, but simply because he is a Person, and is therefore entitled to a full life that includes knowing about everything that is good that the world has to offer that might help him to reach the potential that God designed him for. [As opposed to thinking of a child as a blank slate or clay to be molded – Skylar] This kind of education attempts to expose the child to a rich variety of knowledge [“setting the feast of ideas,” food metaphors are common – Skylar] in order for him to make meaningful connections with the world around him and develop authentic relationships with God, and with people both in his own direct environment, and from different times and places. [In other words, like when you hear a song that reminds you of a historical event, which then reminds you of a piece of art, which reminds you of a conversation with your friend, and so on – everything in life is connected and related to each other – Skylar]”