I decided I really need to fully understand WHY Charlotte Mason suggested these books in particular. I have had a hard time understanding their purpose when I first began learning from her own owrds, but today, I took the time to really understand and I was pleasantly surprised to read her reasons.
From my understanding, she chose to use Plutarch to teach character studies because the stories of people first and foremost are to inspire our children to good character on their own (instead of constant exhortation, which we know is not as useful to teach it). Secondly, Plutarch is to give our children knowledge proper to a citizen. It enlarges their understanding of the government and times they live in. She says, “…knowledge which should make children perceive that they too are being prepared to become worthy citizens, each with his several duties.” (Vol 6, pg 186) There is more to it, but that is the simple explanation. I agree that people’s stories inspire us to be better and improve our character. I also understand that we need to understand how our society and government works etc, and these stories also help with that. Also, reading these stories helps us to understand the roots of our government which I might add were not as Christian as people think, for they have roots in paganism (Greece and Roman ideas), but I would bet some is also based on the Bible (though today you would not see that as much). Also, this article explains much too: http://www.charlottemasonhelp.com/2009/07/in-praise-of-plutarch.html
Her use of Ourselves is clearly explained here: “know where he is in his efforts to ‘be good’ as the children say. The point of view taken in this volume is, that all beautiful and noble possibilities are present in every one; but that each person is subject to assaults and hindrances in various ways of which he should be aware in order that he may watch and pray.” (Vol 6, pg 189) Again, there is a little more to it, but I agree, that though we are free from sin as Romans 6 and 8 explains, we also have a responsibility to not yield our bodies to sin, but rather, we are to yield our members (body parts) to righeousness. And we need to know about how this happens.
I am still thinking on what I will do, but this has helped to understand the purpose of citizenship and the books she used.