“Our motto is,–’Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life.’ When we say that education is an atmosphere we do not mean that a child should be isolated in what may be called a ‘child environment’ specially adapted and prepared, but that we should take into account the educational value of his natural home atmosphere both as regards persons and things and should let him live freely among his proper conditions. It stultifies a child to bring down his world to the ‘child’s’ level.”

We don’t often talk directly about Charlotte Mason in our curriculum, but most of Epi Kardia curriculum, as well as our homeschooling philosophies as expressed on our blog, are inspired by her teachings.  Volume 6 of her works is my favorite, as it was written about forty years after her first volume. (In other words, after her teaching practices were, well, finely tuned by experience.)

“We all know the natural conditions under which a child should live; how he shares household ways with his mother, romps with his father, is teased by his brothers and petted by his sisters; is taught by his tumbles; learns self-denial by the baby’s needs, the delightfulness of furniture by playing at battle and siege with sofa and table; learns veneration for the old by the visits of his great-grandmother; how to live with his equals by the chums he gathers round him; learns intimacy with animals from his dog and cat; delight in the fields where the buttercups grow and greater delight in the blackberry hedges.”

Rather than sitting all day in an artificially contrived environment, Charlotte believed that children should experience life directly.  They should interact with nature; they should have relationships with their parents, siblings, and neighbors next door, the grocery store clerks and the pharmacist.  They should be exposed to some of the realities of life, helping make a meal for the friend who just had surgery or take care of the yard work for an elderly neighbor.

It is no wonder that the homeschooling movement has whole-heartedly adopted Ms. Mason’s philosophies!  It certainly sounds like homeschooling to me!

Thankful for this precious time with my kids,

Next:  Education is a Discipline

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