CMP Review 2026-03-12

March 12, 2026

“Mrs Norton was one of those very energetic people (like Edith Schaeffer). I think she just worked with what she had and did her best.”

This testimony was shared with me about eight years ago by a person who had in her youth attended Olive Norton’s school in England for two years. I didn’t recognize the name Norton, but I was very excited to be hearing first-hand about the experiences of someone with living memories of a PNEU school.

About a year before that I had been invited to speak at a modern American school organized around Charlotte Mason’s principles. After my talk the headmaster showed me his collection of artifacts. Among them was a cassette which he offered to give me. I accepted it with gratitude, but I had no real understanding of its significance. What would I do with a cassette anyway? At the time I had no podcast, no team of dedicated volunteers.

It took me several years to connect the dots. It turns out that Olive Norton is mentioned on pages 13 and 56 of Susan Schaeffer Macaulay’s For the Children’s Sake. On page 13 Macaulay makes the significant statement: “Thank you, Olive Norton, for introducing us to Charlotte Mason in the first place.”

Who was this Mrs. Norton? This “very energetic” person who played such a pivotal role in the modern rebirth of the Charlotte Mason method? The cassette I received out of courtesy became one of my treasured possessions. For the cassette is a recording of Mrs. Norton herself.

Probably my favorite moment in her 81-minute lecture is when she says, “I’m not afraid of any situation, because, of course, God is with me; He’s my friend. He’s my strength.” I think that faith was the source of Mrs. Norton’s energy and inspiration. And it’s a source that’s still available to us today. I hope you take the time to read our new transcription of her talk and the skilled recording of it by Jennifer Talsma.

@artmiddlekauff