Addressing some of the myths about a CM education

I recently came across this post on a friend's blog.
Essentially, it attempted to do the Catholic would-be homeschooling community a service by providing a break-down  of different homeschooling methods. It was a nice post and a good idea.

I have to strongly disagree, however, with the way the information was presented when it comes to Charlotte Mason, and I decided to blog about it not because I am upset with the post, but rather because it was the fourth or fifth time this week alone that I read the same type of misrepresentation of Charlotte Mason's methods, and I think that CM deserves to be adequately represented. I don't know that I'm qualified to do that, but I'm going to give it a try just the same.

First, a word about the different approaches to homeschooling. (Incidentally, I don't think you can put things into boxes all this easily, but I'm going to do this just for the sake of clarity.) It goes without saying that we are talking about education, here, and that "education" is by far one of the hardest things to nail down. We know it when we see it, right? There are many voices who have, in the Great Conversation, provided food for thought in the banquet halls of "education." So because it's such a slippery term, let's just assume that what is meant here is the assimilation of ideas that provide a framework for knowledge and understanding... perhaps for wisdom.

Charlotte herself had something to say about what Education was. You may have heard it before:

Education is a discipline, an atmosphere, and a life.

TRADITIONAL is actually NOT traditional. It is what homeschoolers call other homeschoolers who teach like they do in regular public schools (which haven't been around very long.) Traditional homeschool families often use workbooks and textbooks and have regular days that resemble regular school in most ways. The material in the textbooks and workbooks may be different from the material taught in public schools because it may contain religious content, for example, but to a traditional homeschool family, the general idea is that the parent teaches from a textbook and the student does work at their seat involving writing and reading and testing for comprehension and mastery. These students can often work completely independently with very minimal supervision, which is an advantage for parents looking for that quality in their homeschool. Most families who begin homeschooling will begin with this style of schooling, not realizing the other available options.

UNSCHOOLING is basically the idea of a child-led education. In unschooling, parents don't select textbooks and workbooks but instead take advantage of learning opportunities all around them to teach. Unschooling tends to be very relaxed in atmosphere and tends to be embraced by families with more artistic goals.

CLASSICAL has a wide range of meanings but essentially ends up meaning a liberal arts education as delivered by the ancients, specifically the Greeks and Romans, and also by Catholics. It typically involves a lot of memorization and fact learning, builds on itself, and is heavily academic, particularly in the areas of language, artihmetic, science, music, and philosophy. The classical method is heavily individual, and students do not work together on very much. It tends to be more hands-on than the traditional approach for the parent but students can still work mostly independently. Most Catholic material available which comes from the parochial schools of the 40s and 50s is classical in nature, and most of the Catholic homeschools out there to enroll in are classical (except Seton and CHC.)

UNIT STUDY method is in essence the selecting of subject matter and content based around an idea (usually a historical period, for example) in all academic areas. For a unit study approach, a family might use math books, science books, history books, art, music, literature and poetry etc all based on
a particular geographic location or time period. In the Unit Study method, each child will typically have work to do at his/ her own level but on the same subject as his/her brothers and sisters.

SCHOOLHOUSE method is what I call families who decide to do things as they did in the old one-room schoolhouses across north america. There is heavy emphasis on the three R's and religion, most families use old textbooks designed for these environments, and school is conducted with all age groups working together. This method is often called the "bus" method because the teacher will teach the large group of students and each student will "get off the bus" at their own level, going on to work independently.

ONLINE SCHOOLING is a relatively new concept-- students are taught by professional teachers via webcasts or recorded videos, and do the majority of their schoolwork on the computer. These schools normally utilize traditional methods, but not all. There are some exceptions. One appeal here for some people is that a teacher, and not the parent who feels inadequate in some way for that particular subject, can teach the subject directly to the student, just like in regular school. Again, students can work alone and require little assistance.

LITERATURE BASED schooling means that the students use good books of a literary nature to present information instead of textbooks and activities. This method is often used in combination with one of the other methods-- namely, Classical OR Unit Study.

ECCLECTIC means that a family picks and chooses from different methods what they like.

There are a few educational philosophies out there built on the ideas of famous educators that have gone past. Some of these include Waldorf, Thomas Jefferson, Maria Montessori, and Charlotte Mason. They are named after their creators, but most of their followers would just say that they are providing an education. In the case of Charlotte Mason, for example, I call what I'm giving my kids a living education.
Adherents of these philosophies typically band together in communities and re-purpose their entire homeschools in accordance with the ideas of the educator who founded them. I went to a waldorf pre-school, for example, and everything we did was recommended by the Waldorf method. Some people are really drawn to a few different people's educational ideas, but in reality, these methods often oppose each other in some places and purists are the only ones who are really following through with these types of educational philosophies and seeing the results promised by their founders. Charlotte Mason, then, is one such person-- a victorian era educator with ideas about education. Her ideas were so good, though, that she completely changed the face of education in Europe and here in America among homeschoolers who adhere to her methodology.

Philosophies are often rooted in religious beliefs, and shaped by them. These styles of homeschools are no different. Waldorf has some eccentric spiritual beliefs that put off some Christians, Montessori was a Catholic in name and practice but perhaps missed a few chapters in her catechism on the duty of parents to educate (Can you tell I think she was too child-led and soft? :P) and Charlotte Mason was a life-long member of the Church of England... something which puts off many Catholics but shouldn't, since Anglicans are notoriously more "Catholic" in their thinking than actual Catholics most of the time, these days anyways. (Zing!)

So now a word about Charlotte Mason's methods-- what they are and in some way, what they aren't.

Charlotte Mason IS Classical. It's a liberal arts education. In no way do we have to set up these little camps. For years before I actually started schooling I agonized over whether we were a "Charlotte Mason" family or a "Classical" family or a "Good Books" family. It seems so silly, looking back, because CM is all that and more. I think in my nervousness about approaching homeschooling, I felt the need to identify with other people. Ironically, using CM's methods have isolated us from other homeschoolers in some sense, but the tradeoff has been better family bonding and a delightful experience of education, which I would venture to say is rare judging by the endless facebook posts in my news feed about how hard schooling is for parents and students alike--- what drudgery. Not for us!

Charlotte Mason IS complete. CM students will be adequately prepared for whatever challenges face them, whether it be college or real world work. It is rigorous and academic. Children, for example, who use the Ambleside Online curriculum or who attend one of the new Ambleside schools will find themselves reading WAY above grade level quickly and well, and will have an ease associated with learning and study that very few children will enjoy.

Charlotte Mason IS religious. Although some secular families attempt to use CM's ideas without incorporating her belief in God, she absolutely intended for Children to know, learn about, understand and connect with their creator through her methods. Regardless of whether your family is protestant or Catholic, CM's ideas will enhance your child's religious education, and do so in a way that creates inner growth. In fact, CM parents who study her ideas and implement them are making spiritual progress and growing in their faith. CM parents are discipling their children. How many parents can say that?

Charlotte Mason IS artistic. Students will practice and learn the arts and learn them well. Students will enjoy a freedom of expression at appropriate moments and will be familiar with various artistic expressions and will sharpen their abilities to practice and appreciate the arts.

Charlotte Mason IS math and science heavy. Charlotte used good books as VEHICLES to deliver ideas to children, but her students were exceptionally "gifted" in all areas, even in math and science. Many children who grew up on a CM diet grew to be excellent mathematicians and scientists.

Charlotte Mason IS Character training. Her revolutionary ideas about character building and habits influenced everyone, including the scouting programs your children enjoy today. Morality, strong character-building and exemplary citizenship  were her specialty, and CM parents who adhere to her principles enjoy children who become wonderful people to be around, even at an early age.

Charlotte Mason IS practical. Where many homeschoolers are beginning to stay away from college preparation and prefer to focus on practical living skills, farming, or other types of work-experiences, CM students do academic work in the mornings and are given beautiful afternoons in which to work on handicrafts and real life skills. This prepares them for real life in a way no other homeschooling methods can because they are participating in it right from the start.

Charlotte Mason IS alive. When you hear the term "living books," you think yay, sounds great! And you are right. It IS great. True, one of the things that defines a CM education is that we use only the best and most interesting and well-written books. However, the books aren't what makes CMing a living education.... it's the books AND the methods, a whole system, that makes the magic happen. I hear a lot of people say (and I used to say) that they take some things from CM. One of the first things they take is the idea of living books, because who can argue with that? But in order for CM students to truly come alive, they must not only have thrilling books but high quality books using the best language. they must not only read these books but read them with the habit of attention. They must not only read them but narrate them, and well. They must not only narrate them but read them slowly, and only once, building a relationship with them over time.  It is the combination of methods that makes CM "alive."

Charlotte Mason IS computer based to some degree and if you want it to be. There are loads of good books available on the internet and many people -- including myself-- take advantage of some of them. However, for those of us who, like me, desire to see their kids running and playing and AWAY from the screen, it's nice to know that we don't have to get on there at all if we don't want to. Yay!

Charlotte Mason IS freeeeee! I mean, you know, I'm building a library that my family members swear is making them question my sanity, and ohhh, the books I could buy! But I don't have to. There are libraries on every street corner and literally dozens of free CM-based curriculum choices available on the internets for those who don't feel like doing the research and making up their own. Yay! In fact, if a curriculum provider is charging an exorbitant amount of money to use their stuff, they probably aren't all that committed to pursuing Charlotte's dream-- she was a philanthropist who desired to see a free and wonderful education for ALL people.

Charlotte Mason IS delightful. I've never used the word delightful so much as I have since beginning our homeschooling journey. It's almost funny. Planning school is not a chore but a delight. Sitting down with my children is not horrific but delightful. Doing the work is not drudgery but delightful. What a glorious way to spend a lifetime! Most people who opt for unschooling do so to bring the joy back into their days. However, contrary to what you may have heard people say, Charlotte Mason is NOT child-led. There is nothing soft about CM's methods, although they are "gentle" to some degree. and there is nothing that says that a CM family will EVER just sit around doing art. Even in art, Charlotte taught her students a method before setting them loose to paint. She understood one of the most important things about life: it's all about TRUTH and BEAUTY, which comes from discipline and hard work and imagination and goodness.

Charlotte Mason IS international. Unlike many other methods, which are relatively America-centric in their implementation, CM students can learn in pretty much any environment-- it works as well for settlers and country dwellers as for big city families, missionary families, families who travel regularly.... anybody! Further, because Charlotte's students read in many languages, it provides a living education based on good books in their original languages! What an achievable gift to all people, and a force for peace in the world.

Charlotte Mason IS family-oriented. Like most one-room schoolhouses of days gone past and homes before that, CM understood that it was good for families to be together and that learning didn't have to be this complex process. CM is very parent-involved and parent-directed, but also very respectful of the human dignity and personhood of the student, and therefore enjoyable for the whole family, making it a blessing all around.

Charlotte Mason IS simple. Many people see the long list of achievements CM students are doing each week and think: NO WAY, that's too complicated for us. On the contrary, CM's methods enable the homeschooling experience to be as streamlined and simple as possible. It is enjoyable, fast, and fascinating. Those of us who have tried it know we will never go back- and if we do, we probably didn't try it as described by Charlotte herself.

Charlotte Mason IS scientifically-proven. Her ideas about health, habits, books to read, and methods have been proven in brain science time and time again. Every step of the way, you will discover that doing what she suggests will literally improve the way you use your brain, and that these things are as true for children as they are for adults. In every way, from her ideas about clothing and fresh air and nutrition to her ideas about reading the KJV and Shakespeare, CM is proven healthy!

So now that you know what it IS, spend some time studying other methods to learn what it ISN'T.

It isn't really possible for people to have one foot in and one foot out-- her method is all-inclusive and is designed to be implemented in its entirety. Also contrary to popular belief, it isn't by reading about Charlotte's ideas that we come to implement them best. It is by reading her actual ideas... As written in her own words. 

My hope is that by posting this, I can dispel some of the myths out there rotating about what a CM education looks like in contrast to other types of educations.
Growing up, I attended a traditional French school that used SOME textbooks. However, it was in all ways very CM -style... .and I loved everything about it. Most French public schooling is this way because Charlotte herself was influenced by-- and in turn influenced-- French educators. No one of note in the French education department knows much of anything about her, and yet her ideas and methods are all over the public schools. I find that beautiful and amazing. This occurs naturally with many people, including homeschoolers, because her ideas are simply good. Which is why it was important to me to share what a CM education IS with all of you!