CMP Review 2025-11-25

November 25, 2025

Several years during a discussion on poetry in the Charlotte Mason method, my friend Benjamin Bernier wrote:

In fact Mason incorporated poetry writing on occasion as an option for narration in some assignments and examinations in various subjects.

This sparked some interesting responses, and Bernier added:

Notice that Mason encouraged all children to draw, so that they would develop an attentive eye. Even though she knew that they were not all called to be a Rembrandt. She also required all the HOE training teachers to learn to play the piano, even though they were not all called to be a Mozart.

The implication was that all children should be encouraged to write poetry, even though not every child will be a poet. “Different persons will react differently to each discipline,” he explained, “but it is worth opening the door of each to everyone.”

This is a wonderful idea, but how can we put it into practice?

In 1920, a conference was held for professional teachers who were adopting the Charlotte Mason method in their schools. Most, if not all, were electrified by the new principles and practices. One teacher spoke on how the Mason method was helping children to write better.

This teacher’s paper was published in the Parents’ Review and we’ve transcribed it for you. It not only explains the Charlotte Mason approach to composition. It also gives a practical, step-by-step approach to teaching your children to write verse. After all that is a door worth opening for everyone. Read or hear it here.

@artmiddlekauff