Guest Author - Cheryl Lewis

In the cemetery of St. Mary’s Parish Church, Ambleside, England the gravestone of Charlotte Mason reads:

”In loving memory of Charlotte Maria Shaw Mason, Born Jan 1 1842, died Jan 16 1923, Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty. Founder of the Parents National Educational Union, The Parents Union School and The House of Education. She devoted her life to the work of education, believing that children are dear to our heavenly Father, and that they are a precious national possession. Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life. I am, I ought, I will. For the children’s sake.” *

In order to understand the final tribute on her gravestone, you must look at her life. Ms. Mason was raised and taught when educating women was considered questionable. Children were more apt to be found sitting ram-rod straight in adult size chair and not daring to speak without fear of severe punishment. Kids were definitely not supposed to enjoy their education. Thankfully, Ms. Mason disagreed with that notion of philosophy.

Born in 1842 to two parents who loved their daughter and loved educating her by taking turns with lessons, introducing classic literature and often taking lessons outside. They instilled the love of others, education and teaching which would shape the rest of her life even though her mother passed away when she was 16 years old. Her father, having never recovered from the loss of his wife, died only a short one year later.

Ms. Mason entered the only college for teacher training, The Home and Colonial School Society, located in London, England. Her first position was as the Headmistress at The Davison School, one of the first infant schools in all of England. After three years at The Davison School, she pioneered a high school for young ladies there. After her poor health forced her to retire, even after returning from a long sabbatical, she wrote her first book in order to continue sharing her beliefs. That first book was published in 1880 and in 1886 Home Education was published.

Ms. Mason believed that a home atmosphere was better than any school. She believed that parents needed to let nature be their child’s greatest teacher. To allow children to spend the first six to seven year’s of their lives playing and soaking up whatever knowledge came along and was picked up on the way. The knowledge that would be picked up along the way would come from worthwhile books, outings in all forms and comprehension.

Comprehension came in the form of having children read and recount or paraphrase rather than read over and over. Outings were in the form of visits to museums, art galleries and anywhere else that interested the child. Above all else, the center of the educational attention should be focused on the child and allowing the child to soak up as much as they can.

Looking back at her beliefs and philosophies it’s not surprising that so many people refer to her as “the mother of homeschooling”. Her ideas from the late 1800’s and early 1900’s are still just as relevant today as they were then.

*www.christianity.com