"In urging a method of self-education for children in lieu of the vicarious education which prevails, I should like to dwell on the enormous relief to teachers, a self-sacrificing and greatly overburdened class; the difference is just that between driving a horse that is light and a horse that is heavy in hand; the former covers the ground of his own gay will and the driver goes merrily. The teacher who allows his scholars the freedom of the city of books is at liberty to be their guide, philosopher and friend; and is no longer the mere instrument of forcible intellectual feeding." Charlotte Mason, volume 6 page 32I have been attempting to read a little more of Charlotte Mason's ideas each week to keep myself encouraged and refreshed by the simple principles shared in her writings. Although I sometimes have a hard time distilling her words into practice, today when I was reading this section in volume six it resonated with my current experience in attempting to educate my high school age sons. As the year is slipping by, I can see how they are self-educating in all areas and my role is just as Charlotte Mason described in this section, that of "guide, philosopher, and friend". I am becoming more of a learning companion and a fellow learner.
In this same section of volume six, Charlotte Mason says that many teachers flood their students with explanation, with busy-work, and with activities that don't really teach them anything. I try hard not to fall into those traps by making an effort to remember that guiding is better than explaining and this allows space for their own thoughts instead of pointing them towards a desired conclusion. They are making their own connections with the books and ideas this way and not just spilling back onto paper what they are told to remember.
How about another little gem from Charlotte Mason?
"Knowledge for its own sake is pleasing because it's so fulfilling. When you see evidence that a student in your class shares your delight in knowing, and shares your pleasure in expressing what he knows, and shares your affinity for some wise philosopher or brave hero, you both connect and share a kind of bond."A real hunger for learning and knowledge is an amazing thing to see and to share with your children. It can happen over time. Every tear that is shed in private over our own lack of confidence will soon dry when we realize that "all children want to know everything". (Although I must admit that with teens it is sometimes hidden with a hint of an attitude.)
Charlotte Mason in Modern English, volume 6, page 92.
It is a worthy quest to help your children become self-educators over time. I highly recommend reading Charlotte Mason's volume 6 even if you can only read a few pages at a time. You can read online at the links above.
Barb-Harmony Art Mom
7 comments:
Thanks for the encouragement, Barb. My children are still so young (6, 5, and an infant), and yet I often despair over whether I can truly give them a good education. This speaks volumes to me to just back off and let them lead a little bit.
Have a blessed day!
Thank you for such great words of encouragement!
I also appreciate your transparency in stating that you sometimes have a hard time knowing how to put this into practice.
I was wondering how we can have teens who take the reigns of their learning if they have to have certain credits for certain subjects. Any suggestions?
Go Charlotte! That first quote is one of my all-time favorites.
Wonderful reminders, Barb. I'm so sad that the homeschool curriculum we chose for our high schooler demands reguritation and not discovery and true learning. I am grateful that she has found her passion and talent in her hobby and has made great leaps forward in her skills and techniques, that I see this as her real education and the rest of the stuff is ... just information.
Barb,
I love your insight today... We have been a C.M. fan for 10 years now, and I still find myself drawn to her ways of teaching ( or facilitating) we have one in 9th and one in 7th...Even though we are plugging our way through " more required material for high school" I still try to find ways to bring the material alive for all of us. Right now our son is taking American History and he is studying the Great Migration right now. Instead of he and I just relying on the text, we will visit our local Wampanoag Tribe Indian museum, and I'm looking for DVDs on the Great Migration to watch as a family...That being said, it is true he would rather spend most of his time watching skateboarding videos and playing basketball... I leave him plenty of time to do both!
That is a difficult area [or shalt I say teens are really at times "difficult"] to convey the teachings of CM and have them be positive and focused students who are self-led. Yipes! Been there-done that (on the 3rd right now) and some days are a pleasure-others close to a sickening carnival ride that I just wanna jump off of. I will have to go back thru that volume when things settled down.
And it is nice to see your smiling face in the profile area-I like to put a face to a name (mainly cuz I am visual oriented). Thanks for all the encouraging words here.
Gosh... I'm quite prone to explaining everything. Mine are 7 and 5 and constantly asking questions. But perhaps I am 'flooding' them and deadening their curiosity?
Food for thought and self-examination. Many thanks, once again.
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