No CM schools?

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  • March 16, 2011 at 7:27 pm
    dmccall3
    Participant

    I often wonder why CM’s philosophy didn’t take hold in our (or England’s) school system. Or why there aren’t CM schools the way there are Montessori schools. Does anyone know the history on this?

    March 16, 2011 at 7:50 pm
    momto2blessings
    Participant

    I don’t know for sure—-but seem to remember reading something about it being because of the spiritual focus.  I’d love to know more, hope others respond!  Gina

    March 16, 2011 at 7:53 pm
    Christine Kaiser
    Participant

    The AmbleSide Schools operate on s CM philodophy, but unfortunately there are just a handful here in the US. 

    I don’t know the answer to the question but think it come down to measurable results, effizency and testing.

    When one of my children’s preschool teachers heard we gonna start home schooling this summer  with a “non-traditional” method the first thing she said was  “well those methods are all lacking…”. I then told her that compared to PS curriculum which is limited in ES to basically 5 subjects (here in AZ) we have 15 on the schedule in the first year HS, I never heard back from her on that . 

    Guess the problem is in a lack of information about the different methods of teaching. I took some college classes in Early Childhood Education(which totally scared me away from public education!!) and the alternative methods are just briefly mentioned and frankly hardly any of my fellow students put any interest in learning about those methods or even try to understand them.

    Back in germany I had my oldest ina Waldorf School and even though they are very widespread in Germany you are still considered being a “wiredo” if you choose a Waldorf School over public education. 

    March 16, 2011 at 7:57 pm
    Christine Kaiser
    Participant

    Gina

     yes, gues you are right that makes sense why it is not apllied in PS.

    Still makes me wonder why most private Christian Schools choose ABEKA or something similar over an CM education…

    March 16, 2011 at 8:19 pm
    momto2blessings
    Participant

    Christine,

    Good question. I imagine oral narration with a large class would be challenging.  And unless parents really understood CM, I could see some not wanting to pay $$ for school to be done by noon and then time spent in nature, working on handicrafts…..I just don’t know:)  Gina

    March 16, 2011 at 9:07 pm
    simple home
    Member

    I am doing an internship at the CM school in Fredericksburg next month. I will hopefully glean a lot from it, and would love to share the experience after returning!

    March 16, 2011 at 9:55 pm
    Bookworm
    Participant

    Actually CM philosophy was at one time VERY MUCH a part of many schools in Britain.  Unfortunately a lot of this was lost after the world wars, through key people passing on or moving to new jobs.  And all the “newfangled” ideas began. 

    March 16, 2011 at 10:27 pm
    missingtheshire
    Member

    In the late 50s and 60s I was in a CM primary school from the age of 5-11 years, when I moved on to the high school/grammar school. So there were schools for that age in England at that time – my senior school though from 11-18 was not CM – but I know that my years in the village CM school was what gave me the love of nature, the arts and literatre that I still have today. I think politics, religion and things like thatt may have helped end them and of course the dreaded government committes that mandated standardised school systems and exams. Even though we were run as a CM school, we still had to take the 11 plus exam to determine if we were to go to high school or the more rigorous grammar school. However, during lass time our lessons were short, living and highly interesting with little inteference from the teacher and a lot of narrating. The afternoons were taken up with outdoor pursuits, nature study and PE. we started school at 9am and were finished at 3pm with an hour for lunch. They were wonderful days and I loved every minute. Linda

    March 16, 2011 at 10:38 pm
    my3boys
    Participant

    Linda, that sounds like a dream:)

    March 16, 2011 at 10:50 pm
    missingtheshire
    Member

    Gosh I want to apologise for the dreadful typos on my post – I was in a hurry and made some horrid mistakes. Sorry about that.

    It was a wonderful time, and I wish they had not changed the methods, but I think all countries thought modernising was a good idea, and that is why we have the mess we have today. It was a huge jolt to my system to have the senior school done in a traditional way – I felt like I had been sent to another planet. I did learn far more in those years to 11 than I did thereafter – so I know which system of schooling works. It certainly is sad that children miss out on all that today and have to put up with twaddle and test after test which benefits no-one and adds to the stress of the child. Linda

    March 17, 2011 at 2:07 am
    dmccall3
    Participant

    Thanks for all the responses! They’ve been fascinating to read! And they make me feel confident about my choice both to homeschool and to use CM. 🙂

    Dans

    March 17, 2011 at 4:44 am
    missceegee
    Participant

    Simple Home, I look forward to hearing about your internship this summer. I weighed going to that vs. the LER in MN and opted for the LER this year. Please share when you return. I run a CM co-op and I’m sure you’ll get some good ideas that I could incorporate, if you don’t mind sharing.

    Thanks,

    Christie

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