Elaine Cooper - When Children Love to Learn: A Practical Application of Charlotte Masons Philosophy for Today

When Children
Love to Learn

When Children Love to Learn

Copyright 2004 by Child Light Educational Trust

Published by Crossway Books
a division of Good News Publishers
1300 Crescent Street
Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided by USA copyright law.

Cover design: David LaPlaca

Cover photo: Getty Images

First printing 2004

Printed in the United States of America

Unless otherwise designated, Scripture verses are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
When children love to learn : a practical application of Charlotte Masons philosophy for today / Elaine Cooper, general editor.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 1-58134-259-4 (trade pbk. : alk. paper)

1. Mason, Charlotte M. (Charlotte Maria), 1842-1923. 2. Education Philosophy. 3. EducationCurricula. I. Cooper, Elaine, 1947- .

LB775.M362W44 2004

370'.1dc22 2003022313

BP 14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04
15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Contents

Eve Anderson

Elaine Cooper

Susan Schaeffer Macaulay

Jack Beckman

Bobby Scott

Maryellen St. Cyr

Maryellen St. Cyr

Jack Beckman

Maryellen St. Cyr

Maryellen St. Cyr

Jack Beckman

Jack Beckman

Maryellen St. Cyr

Maryellen St. Cyr

Jack Beckman

Jack Beckman

Bobby Scott

Bobby Scott

Bobby Scott

Bobby Scott

Bobby Scott

Jack Beckman

Bobby Scott

Maryellen St. Cyr

5 BROADER APPLICATION OF CHARLOTTE MASONS
TEACHING PRINCIPLES
Susan Schaeffer Macaulay

Susan Schaeffer Macaulay grew up in Switzerland at LAbri Fellowship, which was founded by her parents, Francis and Edith Schaeffer. She and her husband, Ranald, have led the work of LAbri in England over the years and are vitally involved with educational issues.

Jack Beckman (M. Ed., M.Phil., Ph.D.) has recently completed his doctorate in education at Cambridge University, England, where he concentrated on Charlotte Masons educational principles and practice. He is particularly interested in her work as applied in the preparation of teachers and is currently a member of the education faculty at Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, Georgia. He is also on the board of Charlotte Mason Schools International.

Maryellen St. Cyr (M. Ed.) has many years of experience as a classroom teacher in both primary and middle schools. She has worked as a curriculum director and a principal of elementary schools. Currently she is Director of Charlotte Mason Schools International (CMSI), a nonprofit organization established to help teachers, parents, and schools develop a Charlotte Mason education.

Bobby Scott (M. Ed. in School Administration and M. Ed. in Counseling) is experienced in teaching both high and middle schools. He is at present principal of Perimeter Christian School, a large private school in Atlanta. He has been pivotal in bringing Charlotte Masons ideas into the American educational scene and has helped start schools. Mr. Scott established the Charlotte Mason Institute which, now under CMSI, serves an increasing network of schools interested in the ideas and application of Charlotte Masons educational philosophy.

Elaine Cooper runs Child Light Educational Trust in England together with Susan Macaulay. Mrs. Cooper is married, with three teenage children, and is involved in education as a concerned layperson.

F ollowing the success and ever widening readership of Susan Schaeffer Macaulays book For the Childrens Sake, the number of requests for help and guidance has increased from parents and teachers seeking a deeper understanding of educator Charlotte Masons philosophy and teaching methods.

It is so encouraging to know that many good teachers will be helping to take this philosophy on into this century, therefore enabling many children to have the wonderful start in life of a good Christian education, with a broad curriculum, adapting it to modern needs but not forgetting the lasting values in lifeappreciation of good literature and the arts, awareness of the environment, and love for Gods world.

Realizing the need to train and help students understand her philosophy and teaching methods, Charlotte Mason (18421923) set up a House of Education (later named Charlotte Mason College). I was fortunate enough to spend three years at the college, albeit nearly thirty years after the death of Charlotte Mason, but we were given a thorough understanding of the philosophy by reading (and narrating) her educational books. The spirit of Charlotte Mason lived on in her college. It was always a small college where each individual was an important person. Many of the lecturers had been trained at the college, and there were still people around who had known Charlotte Mason.

It is sad that in England the many small PNEU schools (Parents National Education Union schools started by Miss Mason) have disappeared, but Charlotte Mason was forward thinking and would have wanted us to advance thoughtfully with our times. I am sure she would have been glad that our national curriculum advocates the reading of good literature, including Shakespeare, the study of great artists and musicians, and developing an awareness of the environment. So although teachers are not necessarily aware of Charlotte Mason, her influence continues in many good schools in England.

In many ways during the last few years I have been the link between the past and the future in Charlotte Mason circles. My connections with Miss Mason started when I was five years old and my parents sent me to a small PNEU school within walking distance of home. I spent three years at this school, and a very happy time it was, learning so many things that have remained with me for life. I learned basic reading, writing, and mathematics in a painless and enjoyable way, but more important to me were the lovely afternoon nature walks with the Head Teacher or her assistant, both of whom had been students of Charlotte Mason. My other great joy was the careful study of the pictures of a different artist each term. Of course education must be shared between home and school; so equally memorable are the visits to London with my mother to seek out the original pictures of the artist that I had been studying. These pictures have remained lasting friends to me when I visit the National Gallery or other galleries. Equally important were the weekend trips into the country, my father and I sharing an interest in butterflies, caterpillars, and wildflowers. My Nature Note Book, which I still keep, brings back many special memories.

When I left school, I wanted to become a teacher; so at eighteen I started my three-year training at Charlotte Mason College. When I finished my course, I taught in three different PNEU schools, gaining valuable experience. Then in 1963 I was asked to apply for the job of Head Teacher of a PNEU school near Windsor. I remained in that position for twenty-eight years, a wonderfully rewarding and challenging time, seeing the school grow and develop. I always regarded the school as my family, and I am still in touch with many of my former students and teachers.