Who was Charlotte Mason, and why is she still influential in home education?

To quote the back of the “Original Home Schooling Series” Charlotte Mason's original 6 volume set as reprinted by Tyndale Press:

Charlotte Mason (1842-1923), fonder of the Charlotte Mason College of Education in England, was 100 years ahead of her time in developing an educational philosophy that stressed bringing broad and stimulating education to a child in a noncompetitive, Biblically based way. Mason's timeless, practical insights and her stress on the responsibility of the home have made her a founding influence in the home schooling movement.

A really good online article from Catherine Levison, author of “A Charlotte Mason Education”, titled “Who is Charlotte Mason?” can be read here.

Another excellent online article, this one by Deborah Taylor-Hough, titled “ Charlotte Mason in a Nutshell” can be read here.

What is an Orthodox Christian?

 

The Orthodox Church is evangelical, but not Protestant. It is orthodox, but not Jewish. It is catholic, but not Roman. It isn't non-denominational - it is pre-denominational. It has believed, taught, preserved, defended and died for the Faith of the Apostles since the Day of Pentecost 2000 years ago. --Steven Robinson

An online article titled “The Orthodox Church: An Introduction” by Fr. Thomas Fitzgerald can be read here.

To find a parish near you try this online parish locater from SCOBA, The Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas.

I am an Orthodox Christian and a home educator! Are there more of us??

My favourite place to find other Orthodox Homeschooolers is the OrthodoxClassicalHS list on Yahoo Groups. They are very welcoming of everyone whether you are of the Classical Education bent or not. People interested in Orthodoxy are also welcomed.

As my older children begin to branch out and leave the homeschooling nest I come to realize that if I am going to educate in the CM manner I need to get my act together, now. I need focus my efforts on what CM education means to me and how to impliment it in our Orthodox home. This is the place I'm going to gather my thoughts on what we have done, what I am planning to improve, expand on, and change.

I went on an internet search for CM materials, websites, and blogs for the Orthodox Christian. Tons of Protestant sites, lots of Catholic sites, but I could find only one Orthodox site. ( www.PaideaClassics.org ) I know I'm not the only Orthodox CM Educator out there! As I find materials & sites I'll list them here too.

So here's to the ones I no longer educate at home. Thanks for the experience and for being my guinea pigs. Maybe what you've taught me might help others.

And to the others still homeschooling, here's looking forward to another year together!!