This Q&A podcast episode addresses why Charlotte Mason included Arabella Buckley’s books, how a child can come to the history rotation and always be in exactly the right place, and why all advertised Charlotte Mason curriculum does not necessarily fit in her feast.

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“System leads Nature: assists, supplements, rushes in to undertake those very tasks which Nature has made her own since the world was. Does Nature endow every young thing, child or kitten, with a wonderful capacity for inventive play? Nay, but, says System, I can help here; I will invent games for the child and help his plays, and make more use of this power of his than unaided Nature knows how. So Dame System teaches the child to play, and he enjoys it; but, alas, there is no play in him, no initiative, when he is left to himself; and so on, all along the lines. System teaches the child to play, and he enjoys it; but, alas, there is no play in him, no initiative, when he is left to himself; and so on, all along the lines. System is fussy and zealous and produces enormous results––in the teacher!” (2/168-169)

“Ideas alone matter in Education––The whole subject is profound, but as practical as it is profound. We must disabuse our minds of the theory that the functions of education are, in the main, gymnastic. In the early years of the child’s life it makes, perhaps, little apparent difference whether his parents start with the notion that to educate is to fill a receptacle, inscribe a tablet, mould plastic matter, or nourish a life; but in the end we shall find that only those ideas which have fed his life are taken into the being of the child; all the rest is thrown away, or worse, is like sawdust in the system, an impediment and an injury to the vital processes.” (2/38)

“This, of getting ideas out of them, is by no means all we must do with books. ‘In all labour there is profit,’ at any rate in some labour; and the labour of thought is what his book must induce in the child.” (3/179)

“These few hints by no means cover the disciplinary uses of a good school-book; but let us be careful that our disciplinary devices, and our mechanical devices to secure and tabulate the substance of knowledge, do not come between the children and that which is the soul of the book, the living thought it contains.” (3/181)

“It cannot be too often said that information is not education.” (3/169)

“The main thing, however, is to lead the children to see what is around them, and to enter into the life of all living beings. In this way they will learn to look upon nature as part of the one great scheme under which we all live, doing each our own work, for the good of all, as best we may; that by our efforts we may both improve ourselves and help others, leaving the results to the Great Being in whom we live and move.” (Buckley, Arabella B. “Training of Children in Observation of Nature.” The Parents’ Review, vol. 7, 1896, p. 459

System vs. Method: Home Education, Volume 1, pp. 6-10; Parents and Children, Volume 2, pp. 168-170

Our Island Story, H.E. Marshall

The Door in the Wall, Marguerite de Angeli

Arabella Buckley’s Eyes and No Eyes Series

Among the Pond People, Clara Dillingham Pierson

William Long

Dallas Lore Sharp

Sabbath Mood Homeschool Living Science Study Guides

Episode 12: Chronology of History

Time-Tools: Episode 15: History Things and Episode 112: Notebooks and Paperwork, Part 2

Living Books Library

Nicole’s article on Nature Study seeming like a foreign language

Charlotte Mason was concerned not only with the child’s mind, but all of his person. This week’s podcast episode is an interview with a new Charlotte Mason-educating mom who has deliberately considered both the beauty and function of their school area and shares abundant ideas to inspire you to enhance your children’s connections with their lessons by making deliberate efforts and choices regarding the organization and appeal of the schoolroom  itself.

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“Children are born persons.” (Principle 1)

“Neatness is akin to order, but is not quite the same thing: it implies not only ‘a place for everything, and everything in its place,’ but everything in a suitable places, so as to produce a good effect; in fact, taste comes into play. The little girl must not only put her flowers in water but arrange them prettily, and must not be put off with some rude kitchen mug or jug for them, or some hideous pink vase, but must have jar or vase graceful in form and harmonious in hue, though it be but a cheap trifle. In the same way, everything in the nursery should be ‘neat’–that is pleasing and suitable.” (1/130-131)

“Children should be encouraged to make neat and effective arrangements of their own little properties…Nothing vulgar in the way of print, picture-book, or toy should be admitted–nothing to vitiate a child’s taste or introduce a strain of commonness into his nature.” (1/131)

“[M]eantime, let us look in at a home schoolroom managed on sound principles. In the first place, there is a time-table, written out fairly, so that the child knows what he has to do and how long each lesson is to last. This idea of definite work to be finished in a given time is valuable to the child, not only as training him in habits of order, but in diligence; he learns that one time is not ‘as good as another’; that there is no right time left for what is not done in its own time; and this knowledge alone does a great deal to secure the child’s attention to his work.” (1/142)

“Let him always put away his things as a matter of course, and it is surprising how soon a habit of order is formed, which will make it pleasant to the child to put away his toys, and irritating to him to see things in the wrong place.” (1/130)

Charlotte Mason Soiree Retreat

Episode 4: Three Tools of Education

Jessica’s Instagram Feed

IKEA Picture Hanger

Simply Charlotte Mason’s Picture Study Portfolios

“All Work and No Play Makes Jack a Dull Boy” by Mrs. Flora Annie Steele (Parents’ Review, Vol. 16, No. 6, p. 401)

Jessica’s Scaffolding Form

Jessica’s Scaffolding Chart

Jessica’s Exam Planner

Charlotte Mason’s foundational principles encompass the relationship of parent and child. This is the third part of a series of podcast episodes discussing the role of “authority and docility”  and particularly addresses the child’s side of the relationship.

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“The principles of authority on the one hand, and of obedience on the other, are natural, necessary, and fundamental; but-” (Principle 3)

“These principles are limited by the respect due to the personality of children, which must not be encroached upon, whether by the direct use of fear or love, suggestion or influence, or by undue play upon any one natural desire.” (Principle 4)

“…proud submission and dignified obedience” (2/13), [which she clarifies:] “which distinguishes great men and noble citizens.” (6/70)

“That principle in us which brings us into subjection to authority is docility, teachableness, and that also is universal. If a man in the pride of his heart decline other authority, he will submit himself slavishly to his ‘star’ or his ‘destiny.’ It would seem that the exercise of docility is as natural and necessary as that of reason or imagination; and the two principles of authority and docility act in every life precisely as do those two elemental principles which enable the earth to maintain its orbit, the one drawing it towards the sun, the other as constantly driving it into space; between the two, the earth maintains a more or less middle course and the days go on.” (6/69)

“It is a little difficult to draw the line between mechanical and reasonable obedience.” (3/18)

“We all know the child who is fully willing to do the right thing as far as mind is concerned, but with whom bodily vis inertiae is strong enough to resist a very torrent of good intentions and good resolutions…if we wish children to be able, when they grow up, to keep under their bodies and bring them into subjection, we must do this for them in their earlier years.” (3/19)

“Authority of parents…is only successful as it encourages the autonomy, if we may call it so, of the child. A single decision made by the parents which the child is, or should be, capable of making for itself, is an encroachment on the rights of the child, and a transgression on the part of the parents…If they fail in such self-ordering, …their parents are to blame for not having introduced them by degrees to the full liberty which is their right as men and women.” (2/17)

“…which secure to them freedom, i.e., self-authority, on the one hand, and ‘proud subjection’ on the other.” (6/71)

“If a boy have a passage to read, he obeys the call of that immediate duty, reads the passage with attention and is happy in doing so. We all know with what a sense of added importance we say, ‘I must be at Mrs. Jones’s by eleven.’ ‘It is necessary that I should see Brown.’ The life that does not obey such conditions has got out of its orbit and is not of use to society. It is necessary that we should all follow an ordered course, and children, even infant children, must begin in the way in which they will have to go on.” (6/70)

“All school work should be conducted in such a manner that children are aware of the responsibility of learning; it is their business to know that which has been taught.” (6/74)

“[C]hildren should have a fine sense of the freedom which comes of knowledge which they are allowed to appropriate as they choose, freely given with little intervention from the teacher.(6/73-74)

Parents and Children (Volume 2), Chapter 2

School Education (Volume 3), Chapters 1-2

An Essay Towards a Philosophy of Education (Volume 6), Chapters 4-5

Golden Hours of Delight Retreat, Kings Mountain, NC; April 7, 2018

Episode 30: The Way of the Will and the Way of Reason

Episode 108: Masterly Inactivity

Charlotte Mason had much to say about parenting and this week’s episode addresses the role of parents, their responsibilities, attitudes, and weaknesses. Mason was clear about the dignified office of authority in order to lead, guide, protect, and inspire our children to fulfill their role as obedient, peaceful, and joyful persons.

Listen Now:

“The principles of authority on the one hand, and of obedience on the other, are natural, necessary, and fundamental; but-” (Principle 3)

“These principles are limited by the respect due to the personality of children, which must not be encroached upon, whether by the direct use of fear or love, suggestion or influence, or by undue play upon any one natural desire.” (Principle 4)

“There is an idea abroad that authority makes for tyranny, and that obedience, voluntary or involuntary, is of the nature of slavishness; but authority is, on the contrary, the condition without which liberty does not exist and, except it be abused, is entirely congenial to those on whom it is exercised.” (6/69)

“[We] are free under authority, which is liberty; to be free without authority is license.” (3/29)

“The arbitrary exercise of authority on the part of parent, nurse, governess, whoever is set in authority over him, is the real stone of stumbling and rock of offense in the way of many a child. Nor is there room for the tender indulgent mother….for the most ruinous exercise of arbitrary authority is when the mother makes herself a law unto her child, with power to excuse him from his duties, and to grant him…indulgences…This mother errs in believing that her children are hers–in her power, body and soul.” (5/70)

“Authority is for use and service.” (2/13)

“The love of ease, the love of favour, the claims of other work, are only some of the causes which lead to a result disastrous to society––the abdication of parent. When we come to consider the nature and uses of the parents’ authority, we shall see that such abdication is as immoral as it is mischievous. Meantime, it is well worth while to notice that the causes which lead parents to resign the position of domestic rulers are resolvable into one––the office is too troublesome, too laborious. The temptation which assails parents is the same which has led many a crowned head to seek ease in the cloister–– ‘Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown,’ even if it be the natural crown of parenthood.” (2/13)

“It is not open to parents either to lay aside or to sink under the burden of the honour laid upon them” (2/14)

Parents and Children (Volume 2), Chapter 2

School Education (Volume 3), Chapters 1-2

An Essay Towards a Philosophy of Education (Volume 6), Chapters 4-5

Episode 30: The Way of the Will and the Way of Reason

Charlotte Mason addressed parenting issues in concurrence with her philosophy of education. This podcast episode is the first of a three-part series on her third principle of “authority and docility.” The first portion today concerns the right view of authority in our lives.

Listen Now:

“The principles of authority on the one hand, and of obedience on the other, are natural, necessary, and fundamental…” (Principle 3)

“Authority is for use and service.” (2/13)

“[Authority] is to be maintained and exercised solely for the advantage of the children, whether in mind, body, or estate.” (2/16)

“But be his knowledge of the law little or much, no parent escapes the call to rule.” (2/10)

“Now, the first thing we ask for in a ruler is, ‘Is he able to rule? Does he know how to maintain his authority?’ A ruler who fails to govern is like an unjust judge, an impious priest, an ignorant teacher; that is, he fails in the essential attribute of his office.” (2/10)

“But we have been taught better; we know now that authority is vested in the office and not in the person; that the moment it is treated as a personal attribute it is forfeited. We know that a person in authority is a person authorised; and that he who is authorised is under authority.” (3/11-12)

“For it is indeed true that none of us has a right to exercise authority, in things great or small, except as we are, and acknowledge ourselves to be, deputed by the one supreme and ultimate Authority. When we take up this volume on education, small as it is, easy reading as it is, we must bear in mind that we have put ourselves under the lead of a philosopher who overlooks nothing, who regards the least important things from the standpoint of their final issue, and who would not have the little child do as he is bid lest he should learn, as a man, to obey that authority, other than himself, which we believe to be Divine.” (3/7-8)

“We all have it in us to serve or to rule as occasion demands.” (3/10)

Parents and Children (Volume 2), Chapter 2

School Education (Volume 3), Chapters 1-2

An Essay Towards a Philosophy of Education (Volume 6), Chapters 4-5

Episode 107: Forming Informed Opinions

An article on the Christian foundation of Charlotte Mason’s Philosophy of Education