After a delightful time in Italy with my daughter, I had an unusually long layover in London. We decided to get on the train and pay one more visit to the Armitt to see what new secrets we could find. Due to the constraints of the layover, I realized that we would only have about …

I have been contemplating a couple of things lately. First, I realize that when I read Charlotte Mason, I am reminded of the beauty and wholeness of the Gospel message. I am convicted to read my Bible more. I am inspired by Mason’s knowledge and understanding of the word of God and its application to …

In 2002, ISI Books published the landmark Climbing Parnassus by Tracy Lee Simmons. However, it was not until 2005 that the CiRCE Institute awarded Simmons the prestigious Paideia Prize for Lifetime Contribution to Classical Education. This award places Simmons comfortably alongside other classical education heavyweights such as David Hicks and James Taylor, winners of the Paideia Prize in 2002 and 2007, respectively. The CiRCE …

It was with great interest that I began one week ago to read Karen Glass’s response to my review of her book. I had waited many months for just such a response. After reading it carefully, I felt gratitude for several things: She took the time to write a piece that is careful and thorough. …

If there is a single phrase most commonly associated with Charlotte Mason, it is probably “Children are born persons.” It is the concise first article of the Short Synopsis authored by Mason and approved by the PNEU Executive Committee in 1904. In the years that have followed, it has inspired countless parents and teachers. For …

When Dr. Stephanie Spencer of University of Winchester submitted her scholarly essay for publication in Women, Education, and Agency 1600-2000, she chose the subtitle, “Charlotte Mason’s Philosophy of Education.” For the main title, however, she chose a phrase that for her (apparently) captures the essence of Mason’s philosophy of education: “Knowledge as the Necessary Food …

In 1998, James Taylor unveiled his book entitled Poetic Knowledge: The Recovery of Education. In his book, Taylor explicitly identifies his vision of education as classical; one reason his book has aroused interest is because it claims that a substantial portion of classical education should taught in the “poetic mode.” Since the time of the book’s …

Over the past several months, I have seen some classical philosophers tied to the name of Charlotte Mason in an effort to show that her philosophy is based on and part of the classical tradition. This notion puzzled me. I had never noticed Miss Mason mention any of these philosophers as inspiration for her work. …