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No academics until age 8-10?
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I just recently had an brief online discussion with a fellow blogger. (I have much respect for her btw). She mentioned that she does CM style up until age 6 and then moves into a more classical approach. I was curious as to why and asked. She mentioned that CM doesn’t start academics until age 8-10. Am I missing something? I’m starting with my six year old and we’re doing reading lessons, math, handwriting, and read aloud lit and history, piano lessons, art/nature/composer/hymn study. None of this of course takes very much time.
I asked if she felt the main difference was memorization (classical) vs. narration (CM). She didn’t remember much about CM except that up until age 8 it is no book work and only nature study. My online friend said they wanted memorization, root language, and rhetoric to be part of their homeschool.
I still wonder if I’ve missed something about CM on this brief journey of mine. I thought academics started “around” age 6. And basically, what she coined as academics were the 3Rs.
Any thoughts on this?
Your friend is mistaken. Charlotte recommended delaying formal academics until age 6, not 8.
I find many people thinking CM and classical meld well together, but there is a real paradigm difference. Just using the memorization example- both approaches utilize memorization, the difference is content. Classical is a bunch of facts to serve as books for later information. CM is great thoughts & ideas, poetry, and scripture to ruminate on. CM saves the facts to be learned in a more natural way through reading.
Missceegee is correct.
This may help: http://simplycharlottemason.com/basics/started/cmclassical/
You can find this link under the Getting Started tab on the SCM home page. Look for About Charlotte Mason, and it’s #4.
HTH, Mollie
She may have also been thinking of the later start age for formal grammar lessons. She may have also noticed the focus on Nature Study with the younger ones, without the modern day science approach. Either way, she probably prefers the classical method in her homeschool.
Lots of classical educators say that they are ‘pre-Dorothy Sayers’ classicists.
Evidently their view is that before Ms. Sayers introduced the strict organizational structure of the ‘stages’ of education and the age ranges in which they should be taught, classical education was much more closely aligned with what Charlotte advocated. Here is an excellent article for those interested in learning more:
http://www.afterthoughtsblog.net/2012/04/rerun-classical-education-is-dorothy.html
One quote:
Here is a wonderful paragraph:
As to Memory: To this there is necessary, first, a clear, firm, and true impression on the senses; secondly, the understanding of what is presented. Words by themselves, if capable of no order or coherence that can engage the understanding, are not to be committed to memory…. Writing is a great aid to memory.
Did you think Charlotte said this? Fooled you!! This was Comenius – a true classical scholar and Christian bishop writing in the 1600’s.
Dorothy Sayers was greatly influenced by standardization and the effect of industrialization on western culture. She believed that by standardizing the trivium and breaking it down into specific age and learning levels, all students could be equalized. Sounds a little like Common Core, doesn’t it?
The ‘myth’ that no CM educator starts before age 8-10 is prevelant in the homeschooling community. Actually, I believe Ruth Beechick would be more responsible for the ‘delayed’ homeschooling movement.
I realize that I enjoy research – but it does bewilder me that people are willing to base one of the most important decisions of their parenting life (how to educate thier children) on vague suppositions rather than investing the time in researching the facts.
Your friend probably does enjoy her method of homeschooling, but you may suggest (gently) that she know the truth about the CM method so that she has a better understanding of her fellow homeschoolers.
Raymond and Dorothy Moore are proponents of delayed formal learning. You may find it interesting that Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn, serious classical homeschool authors/speakers, also suggest waiting until later for formal studies…but, they do NOT mean delaying learning. They encourage CM style learning and moving toward sit down serious book studies around 10-12 (or, earlier depending on readiness.)
This may explain their thoughts better than I can right now.
http://www.triviumpursuit.com/articles/ten_to_do_before_ten.php
Thank you for your responses. The links definitely give me a broader idea of education. I do find many people have the wrong idea about CM. Most people refer to it as a “curriculum” which leads me to believe they have no idea who Charlotte Mason was. They’ve just heard about her through the homeschooling community.
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