CMP Review 2026-06-09

June 9, 2026

Two children sit on large rocks beside a fast-moving, rocky river with a forested bank behind them.

I am always thrilled when I find a Parents’ Review article written by an “ordinary mother.” I look to these home educating parents of an earlier generation as trailblazers, the first to use the Charlotte Mason method in their homes. Last summer when I found a piece from 1918 it was no exception. I saw all the things I love to see — stories of books and drill and nature walks and the home schoolroom — all from the point of view of a parent who was thankful to have found Miss Mason.

However, I also realized that this article by Mrs. Pell was different. This mother did not simply tell of all the wonderful things she found in Miss Mason’s programme. She also provided extensive detail on what Mason saved her family *from*.

She called her piece “The Evolution of Home Education for Girls,” and at first glance, it may seem that it describes an evolution that has run its course. But a sensitive and thoughtful editor’s note by Tabitha Wirges explains that Mrs. Pell’s message is more relevant today than we all may care to admit.

I encourage anyone involved in the education of children to read or hear this article. It provides a warm testimony about the effectiveness of Miss Mason’s methods. And it provides a challenging reminder that we all still have a way to go. Recorded by Tabitha Wirges, you can find it here.

@artmiddlekauff

📷: @dave_stillwell