Free shipping on USA orders over $129!
New to CM: How would you define a CM education and a CM educator?
- This topic has 11 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 10 months ago by
.
Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)
- Posts
Hi! I am new to CM and I have been reading quite a bit about it in books and on web-sites. Some places give me the idea that someone teaching the Charlotte Mason methods implement narration, copy work, dictation, living books, and a nature study. Some of the places on this board give me the idea that perhaps it is much more than that.
How would you define a Charlotte Mason education? How would you define what a CM educator is/does?
I think the things CM is known for –copywork, narration–are really not the most important things. They are outcomes of her view of children and of how we learn. I think the philosophy behind it is the most important thing. The key points to me are that children are fully formed people who have a natural instinct to acquire knowledge. Our job is to put before them quality materials so that they can form relationships with the materials and absorb for themselves the ideas therein. It is different from other approaches in which the burden is on the teacher to present a set slate of knowledge (often dry facts) in such a way that the children will find them palatable.
I am starting to write in my blog a series on the philosophies behind different approaches to homeschooling:
http://www.lettersfromnebby.wordpress.com
Nebby
Thank you for replying Nebby! I am trying to understand the different educational philosophies and solidify my own.
So what then is the difference between un-schooling & CM? I think the un-schoolers I know would definitely mark their position as one that presents quality material to the students, but leaves it up to the student to interact with the material, and sees the children as fully formed people ready to learn.
I hope my second question doesn’t come across in the wrong way. I am asking for clarification because I am trying to understand CM. I have read her introduction to her first book and two or three books about CM. The summary you gave though is helpful as I try to wrap my mind around the philosophy in action.
Thank you!
homeschooling4,
You might find this recent thread on CM vs Un-schooling interesting. I would recommend that you read Charlotte Mason’s writings (volume 1) to start with to get a better understanding of her approach.
We are just starting our journey but I am sure more seasoned CMer’s will chime in:)
http://simplycharlottemason.com/scmforum/topic/unschooling-and-cm#post-68581
Here is a link to Charlotte’s series free online:
http://www.amblesideonline.org/CM/toc.html
Charlotte Mason said “Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life.” She felt that children learn best in a natural (rather than forced) environment, must be trained in good habits and character, and need living ideas to feed their minds the way nutritious food feeds our bodies.
I am not an expert on unschooling but I have read a lot about it as I considered its philosophy before finding CM’s writings. It also respects children as persons and encourages self-learning. To me the fundamental difference is that unschooling leaves more up to the child. Charlotte recommended beginning habit training immediately with young children. A generous curriculum was set before the child to whet their appetitite.
Unschooling is a wide and varied subject. You rarely meet two unschoolers who do things alike. I would consider myself a partial unschooler if you meant simply that we do not do “school-at-home” traditional style schooling and that I let my children follow their interests in education. However, the basis of unschooling is to allow the child freedom to learn what they want, when they want. Charlotte didn’t whip up her curriculum to her students taste, but spread a feast that was varied and nourishing for their mind. It included many things to taste and to try and when something delighted you second helpings were in order.
Tara
I have a post on unschooling coming out on the 14th at http://www.lettersfromnebby.wordpress.com
I do think they have a lot in common. I think the view of the child though is the key. Both see a lot of ability to learn in the child but unschooling assumes a good child (morally speaking) who will learn what they need to learn. Charlotte says that if left alone a child will not necessarily choose valuable things to learn. It is our job to put quality materials before them.
On the practcal side of things, even though the burden in CM is on the child to learn, it is still a very structured apporach which a lot of subjects covered. Though unschoolers can vary a lot, unless the child asks for it, they would not normally be doing things like map drills and narration.
Nebby
I just came across this interesting article that compares and contrasts unschooling, classical (as understood in the Well-Trained Mind), and Charlotte Mason approaches to homeschooling. http://www.normanjamesacademy.com/charlotte_mason_and_classical_education.html
May give you some food for thought. You’ve gotten some good thoughts here already. (As an aside, Nebby, I enjoyed your post on unit stuides, look forward to the unschooling installment. =)
Jen
My post on unschooling just came out:
http://lettersfromnebby.wordpress.com/2012/06/14/approaches-to-homeschooling-unschooling/
I am working on one on classical education too.
Nebby
After reading your post, I have to say that I agree, but many unschoolers would not. I know of, and have read about many Christian unschoolers, and I do believe that they (these ones) believe that the human sin nature is present. I believe they do believe they are not disregarding that fact in their choice to unschool. I think for some the whole curriculum choices, mandatory reading list, pre-selected anything is contrived. I believe that some believe that their children are just going to become who they were meant to be no matter what you do. I also think that some feel that if they genuinely assist in the guidance department (and are supervising/available) that their children will be right where they’re suppose to be (we don’t need to interfere, just be available).
Also on this topic, I find it interesting that some unschoolers are no worse off than those that were schooled traditionally or otherwise. I think many parents feel that way when they see the success of homeschoolers as compared to the years their dc spent in ps, or worse, paying for pr. school.
For me, it’s not an idea that I choose to explore (other than read about). I prefer a plan, even if it’s not curriculum, for my dc. I feel better that way. I would imagine that unschoolers “feel better” by not “stifling” their dc. I feel good about introducing my dc to whatever. On the other hand, many unschooling parents introduce their dc to museums, literature, music, etc. because that’s what they’re interested in and take their dc on the journey, but in a more natural way, I suppose.
It’s all interesting and has so many variables to consider. I love the CM method and what I have learned out of it (unschoolers would say that I found an interest and pursued it, voila!). So, in reality, adults are life-long “unschoolers”. I still prefer my routines, plans, etc., and am so happy for this forum.
Thanks for the feedback, my3boys. I think part of the problem is thta unschoolers cover a wide spectrum of actual practices. I guess I was trying to get at what a pure unschooling philosophy would say and believe. But if one is trying to be a Christian unschooler the Christian part of that is going to add something to the unschooling part so the philosophy is changed.
There is a woman at my kids’ gymnastics class who is an unschooler. Her kids are happy and well behaved and seem interested in learning. Not only that she watches her friend’s 3 kids every day and the friend has apparently been told multiple times, “Oh, your kids are so much better behaved since A. has been watching them!” So obviously unschoolers can produce well bahaved, “good” kids. And I think most of them value kindness and politeness in their kids.
My only real problem with unschooling is that I think it assumes that kids can and will choose the good and I think that idea is unbiblical. Practically speaking, I think most unschoolers do a lot of steering at least behavior-wise in their kids. Very few really let them be completely. If for some reason I were forbidden to use CM methods, I think unschooling would be my second choice. Both emphasize the individuality of children and their unique personalities. I much prefer that to something like the modern classical movement which IMO stifles and undersells children.
Nebby
@Nebby, I completely understand what you are saying. And, I understand what you were getting at with the true underlying philosophy.
And, I agree that each unschooling family defines their educational practices differently, as most homeschoolers, so it’s hard to get a pure definition, unless you go to the founders. And, I don’t believe that children, or adults, will naturally choose the good, as a matter of fact, the Word says that we most definitely won’t. As long as that is recognized (and I’m not saying anyone is or isn’t) then I guess you would “interfere” for that reason alone.
Very interesting. I enjoyed your post.
Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)
- The topic ‘New to CM: How would you define a CM education and a CM educator?’ is closed to new replies.