Art Middlekauff’s Session Abstracts
Plenaries
Charlotte Mason’s Twenty Principles
Charlotte Mason first introduced her theory of education in a series of lectures in 1885 which were published in 1886. In the years which followed, she wrote many additional articles and books. However, over time she increasingly felt the need to distill her theory of education into a concise summary or synopsis. She completed this in 1904, and it is now commonly referred to as her “Twenty Principles.” In this plenary, we will consider the meaning and significance of each of these twenty principles, thereby surveying Mason’s theory of education according to the structure she herself formalized in her synopsis.
How to Learn the Charlotte Mason Method
H.W. Household wrote, “If you regard the Charlotte Mason method as a bag of tricks of which you can select one or two for adoption, leaving the rest, you will have nothing but disappointment.” How do we avoid reducing Charlotte Mason’s method to a “bag of tricks”? How do we obtain an understanding of the principles and the philosophy that can transform a book list into a living education? We are all busy, and we have limited time in which to both teach and learn. In this session we will explore the various avenues available to us to learn Mason’s method.
In 1890, Charlotte Mason wrote, “Is not physiology hurrying up with the announcement that to every man it is permitted to mould and modify his own brain?” By 1894, Mason clearly saw the implications: “Within our own time the science of Education has been absolutely revolutionised, not by educationalists, but by Physiologists, who have made the brain their specialty.” Why was physiology so impactful to education? Because, Mason explains, “this business of laying down lines towards the unexplored country of the child’s future is a very serious and responsible one for the parent. It rests with him to consider well the tracks over which the child should travel with profit and pleasure.” Are the discoveries of 19th-century physiologists still relevant today? Can the parent really lay down lines of travel for the child’s future? In this session we will explore these questions as we consider the promise of “Habits for Life.”
There are containers for time, containers for objects, and containers for chemicals. Sometimes it is hard to find the right container for a substance. Of course, chemicals that are inert are very safe. But some acids are so reactive that they interact with their container. If you are not careful, the container can be transformed by what’s inside. Years ago I decided to implement Charlotte Mason’s ideas into my homeschool. At first I just took Charlotte Mason’s ideas and put them into the containers of my week that were set aside for lessons. I did not realize that these ideas were more reactive than any chemical. Anyone interested in applying Charlotte Mason’s ideas, be forewarned: you may set out to transform your teaching, but you may end up transforming yourself.
Charlotte Mason and the Educational Tradition
Christian Overman wrote, “Ideas do make a difference! And significant ideas cast much longer shadows than do the men or women who originally think them.” What ideas are casting a shadow on your practice of education? And how do these ideas make a difference? The focus of this session is to uncover which ideas correlate with Mason’s philosophy of education. Was she continuing a previously existing tradition? And what difference does this make in our practice of education today?
Let’s face it: homeschooling is hard. As parent-educators, we want to prepare our children spiritually, mentally, and physically for the fullness of life. On this journey we face pressures and doubts. We wonder about our pace and progress. We wonder about results. We feel inadequate and can’t help but compare ourselves to others around us. When our worries threaten to overwhelm us we seek refuge in faith. Many veterans on this journey tell us to simply “trust the method.” Is this answer Miss Mason would give? How would she tell us to balance faith, reason, and responsibility in this great task of raising the children entrusted to our care?
Technology — The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
In most schools today, technology is king. All students are given tablets and everyone learns to code. We are told that this approach gives kids an advantage. It prepares them for a future that is becoming more and more digital every day. Other schools reach back to a nearly forgotten past. A time when science meant painting a flower, not tapping a screen. Many homeschool parents yearn for the latter, and they turn to Charlotte Mason to show them the way. But is that the end of the story for the Charlotte Mason method? The answer is found in realizing that technology is not uniform. There is good, there is bad, and there is ugly. In this session I’ll talk about all three.
Godly Sorrow, Worldly Sorrow, and Joy
In 2 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul writes that “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” I don’t know about you, but I’ve experienced a lot of sorrow in my homeschool journey. And to be honest, I don’t think I’m the only one. Many parents I talk to have experienced a gamut of emotions ranging from guilt and fear to conviction and resolution. But Joy? A serene and sustained sense of joy and peace seems elusive for many. It sure has for me. Is that the way it’s supposed to be? I remain convinced that homeschooling is a sacred vocation. And I believe the Apostle Paul’s words can show us a path to bearing the fruit of the Spirit in that vocation, a fruit which includes joy.
Guide, Philosopher, and Friend
Charlotte Mason wrote that the teacher’s “part is not the weariful task of spoon-feeding, but the delightful commerce of equal minds where his is the part of guide, philosopher and friend.” It’s easy to assume that Miss Mason herself coined the phrase, but the fact is that people had been applying the label “guide, philosopher and friend” to roles, persons, and books for over a century before Mason’s time. But sadly, the label seemed always just out of reach for the ordinary, official teacher, who was more often seen as a master than a mentor. Charlotte Mason changed all that, showing us how we can be the companions, coworkers, and confidants of our children. Let’s explore how.
Free To Obey
“Children are born persons.” Every discussion about the Charlotte Mason method begins with this point. And Mason herself developed one of its most important implications: “Children are persons; ergo, children must have liberty.” In line with this liberty, Mason insisted that “our first care should be to preserve the individuality, give play to the personality, of children.” Embracing Charlotte Mason’s first principle, then, would seem to involve giving up control. How can we “give play” to the personality of our children without “giving away” our claim to authority? In this session we will explore Mason’s surprising answer as we discuss the true nature of freedom.
An Unlikely Speaker
How does a software engineer with little interest in education become a passionate speaker about the Charlotte Mason method? The unlikely story testifies to the hidden power of living ideas. Hear how the effort to transform a homeschool resulted in the transformation of the teacher, and how that transformation gave birth to purpose and resolution. Hear the story of how a reading of the volumes ultimately led to trips around the world in an effort to discover and promote an authentic Charlotte Mason education.
Mason’s program for Bible lessons
Charlotte Mason wrote, ”Now our objective in this most important part of education is to give the children the knowledge of God.” Mason did not approach this ”most important part of education” in a haphazard fashion; rather, she developed a progressive program of study for children from ages 6 to 18 that is breathtaking in its simplicity, elegance, and efficacy. In this session, we will review the content, sequence, and structure that Mason developed for Bible lessons for Forms I through VI. With the understanding that education is the science of relations, we will explore her approach to facilitate the most important relationship of all.
The Perfect Charlotte Mason Education
When people first hear about the Charlotte Mason method, many decide they want to try it out. They start small, with a few elements such as nature study and narration. Over time they begin to see results in their family, and they want more. For some, this becomes a quest for the perfect Charlotte Mason education. But prudence would ask, is more always better? Is there even a way to do it all? Or is the perfect Charlotte Mason education something other than checking all the boxes? If so, what is it? Come with an open mind to consider what is the very best that Charlotte Mason has for your family.
Charlotte Mason and the Philosophy of Science
What role does observational science play in your philosophy of education? John Amos Comenius (1592-1670) broke with tradition when he called out, ”And why should we need other teachers than these our senses to learn to know the works of Nature?” But this bold emphasis on observational science can make some uneasy. There is a concern that scientific reductionism may challenge philosophical formalism. And there is a concern that science may somehow rise up and stand in judgement on faith. Was Mason’s philosophy of science classical or modern? Secular or Christian? And what difference does it make? These are the topics I explore in this session.
High School at Home with Charlotte Mason
Many homeschoolers are inspired by Charlotte Mason’s emphasis on nature study, living books, and narration. However, it can be difficult to envision what this emphasis would look like in high school. Does the Charlotte Mason method lose its distinctive features when teaching older teens? Or do Mason’s ideas have a unique application in the final years of homeschool? Drawing from my research about Charlotte Mason and the PNEU, as well as from my personal experience with two graduates, I share my perspective in this talk on high school at home with the Charlotte Mason method. I emphasize that the distinctive features of the method don’t fade in these final years; rather, they glow ever brighter.
Charlotte Mason’s Call to Parents
Charlotte Mason provided guidance for educating children in a variety of settings, including the classroom and the home. What did she see as the role of parents in the education of children? Does the role change depending on the setting of the education? Does Charlotte Mason have a message specifically to mothers and fathers? Find out in this serious and challenging presentation.
The Role of Knowledge in Moral Development
When you think of moral development, what are the first ideas that come to mind? Perhaps ideas such as behavior, training, action, and love. But probably not “knowledge”. In fact we often disparage “head knowledge” as something quite opposite to moral development. But does knowledge play a role in moral development? If so, is it a primary or incidental role? This session will explore what Charlotte Mason said about this important topic.
The Sacramental Character of Education
Charlotte Mason made many references to the role of the Holy Spirit in education. For example, she wrote that “God the Holy Spirit is Himself, personally, the Imparter of knowledge.” But she also insisted on the complementary role of the teacher. For example, she wrote that we should “conceive of the divine teaching as co-operating with ours in a child’s arithmetic lesson.” This concept can be puzzling until we grasp more about Mason’s understanding of how God interacts with the world. By looking at Mason’s frequent references to the concept of a sacrament, we can better understand how to co-operate with the Holy Spirit in the practice of education.
Mason’s Theology – Orthodoxy or Innovation?
Charlotte Mason’s writings on education are interspersed with references to God, Christ, and other spiritual topics. What theology lies behind these scattered references? Should Mason be considered theologically orthodox, or was she a theological innovator? Was she faithful to the Christian tradition that we have received, or did she chart a new course? Does it even matter? This session will focus on Mason’s theology of personhood and personal development and examine how her views relate to traditional Christian theology.
Reverence in Lessons
Many parents and teachers have a bittersweet if not disappointing experience with the awakening power of knowledge. I propose that what is often missing is a quality that Charlotte Mason said should accompany all our teaching of children: reverence. When I began to realize that reverence was sorely lacking in my own lessons, I resolved to do something about it. But was this going to be an exercise that took place solely in my mind? In other words, was my goal to simply stir up feelings of holiness and reverence during lesson time? Thankfully not. I have found that reverence in lessons is expressed more powerfully in what we do than in what we feel. In this session I share about the beliefs, attitudes, and actions that instill the quality of reverence in lessons — a set of actions that I firmly believe can become habit.
Workshops
Poetry and Spiritual Formation
Charlotte Mason wrote, “Poetry is, perhaps, the most searching and intimate of our teachers… Poetry, too, supplies us with tools for the modeling of our lives… As we ‘inwardly digest,’ reverence comes to us unawares…” Mason believed that poetry plays a crucial role in the spiritual formation of Christ’s disciples, young and old. In this workshop, we will interact with devotional poetry and reflect on its role in the home, church, and school.
The Theology of the Great Recognition
In her third volume, entitled School Education, Mason wrote of a “A Medieval Conception of Education” –– the “idea of all education springing from and resting upon our relation to Almighty God.” Did this concept originate with “the medieval Church”, later to be rediscovered by Mason on the walls of the Spanish Chapel in Florence? Or does the concept spring from a deeper and more ancient spring? This workshop will search for the Great Recognition in the Scriptures, the tradition of Israel, the history of the church, and in the purposes of God Himself. With an understanding of the broader context of this Recognition, we hope to be able to apply it more consistently fully.
When describing of the human person, Charlotte Mason employed an analogy to the Old Testament “tabernacle in the wilderness.” In this session, we will explore how this analogy helps us better understand certain themes and elements in Mason’s writings.
Charlotte Mason Junior Math
Mathematics is an intrinsic element of the Charlotte Mason method, and as with every other subject, the “three educational instruments” we employ are “the atmosphere of environment, the discipline of habit, and the presentation of living ideas.” However, unlike other subjects, the habits of math are formed in the mind where they are rarely observed, and the living ideas are introduced by a living teacher rather than by a living book. In this workshop, we’ll explore how the Charlotte Mason method guides our teaching of math in the “junior” years between elementary school and high school.
Reading the Books Charlotte Mason Referenced
In her Home Education Series, Charlotte Mason quotes, exposits, and references many books. Sometimes she devotes entire chapters to explore another book’s message, such the Parents and Children chapters entitled “Faith and Duty” and the School Education chapters named “We Are Educated by Our Intimacies.” I have joined with other students of Charlotte Mason to read and discuss many of these references works. In this workshop I’ll share what we read, what key themes we encountered, and most importantly, how these books have helped us become better educators.
The Parents’ Review
Anyone who begins learning and applying the Charlotte Mason method sooner or later hears about The Parents’ Review. What is it? Why is it important? Should we read it? It turns out that this amazing journal is a treasure trove of guidance and inspiration for today’s parents and teachers. In this session we’ll go over the history of The Parents’ Review, show why it still matters, and explain how to reap its benefits.
All the Notebooks
Charlotte Mason’s tenth principle observes that “knowledge is not assimilated until it is reproduced.” A common way to reproduce knowledge is through narration, but it is not the only way. Charlotte Mason also urged students to keep a variety of notebooks and journals, including a century chart, a book of centuries, a nature notebook, a commonplace book, and more. In this practical session, we will clarify the structure, purpose, and use of each of the essential notebooks, and I will share tips gleaned from my family’s experience with each.
Charlotte Mason as seen through her poetry
Many people are aware that Charlotte Mason wrote six volumes of poetry entitled The Saviour of the World. But fewer people know that Mason wrote a variety of additional poems that have never been published. Mason wrote The Saviour of the World with the hope that “the Son of Man, lifted up, would draw all men unto Himself.” While her writings focus on Christ, her words also reveal much about herself. In this session, we will explore examples of Charlotte Mason’s poetry that may help us look at her educational volumes in a fresh and enhanced way.
Maria Montessori In Her Own Words
Charlotte Mason found what she believed to be a “scientific basis of education.” A contemporary of Miss Mason also looked to science for insight on how to educate children: Maria Montessori. As with Mason, Montessori also looked to the timeless truths of Christianity to guide the development of her method. What conclusions did Montessori reach about education? In this session we will reflect on her own words about how science and faith inform how we teach our children.
Dads and the Three Educational Instruments
In most contemporary American families, the father is not the primary educator of his children. Many children attend school outside the home, and in the home schoolroom, mothers are usually the primary teachers. What role remains for dads in a Charlotte Mason education? Miss Mason wrote that, “we are limited to three educational instruments—the atmosphere of environment, the discipline of habit, and the presentation of living ideas.” In this session, we will explore how busy dads can educate their children with atmosphere, discipline, and life, even outside of classroom hours.
Latin: Moving from Disdain to Delight
I did not like Latin. Actually, I would say I disdained Latin. I looked for every reason I could find to keep it out of my homeschool. But deep down inside I was ignoring my favorite chapter in all of Charlotte Mason’s writings. In that chapter she writes, “Whatever is stale and flat and dull to us must needs be stale and flat and dull to [the child], and also that there is no subject which has not a fresh and living way of approach.” Gradually, slowly, the fresh and living way reached even me. I can honestly say now that Latin is for me a delight. And what changed me might just have the power to change you and your children too.
Rightsizing the Banquet
Charlotte Mason explains our responsibility to each child when she writes, “our business is to give him mind-stuff, and both quality and quantity are essential.” She adds that “I should like to emphasize quantity, which is as important for the mind as for the body; both require their ‘square meals.’” This emphasis on quantity and variety is summed up in the metaphor that pictures the Charlotte Mason curriculum as a “banquet.” But every parent knows that preparing and serving a daily banquet is a tall order, especially if it must be done for each and every “square meal.” In this session, a follow-up to last year’s open discussion on how much is too much, I plan to share a practical framework for determining how much is enough, too much, and just right for you and your homeschool.
The Fundamental Law of Scheduling
Scheduling is one of the great challenges of homeschooling. On the one hand, we want our children to have the entire banquet. We want the satisfaction of completing all the books in the term. On the other hand, we want to honor our child’s learning pace. And we want to fit it all in the morning and have free afternoons. When we inevitably fall short of one of these goals, we can feel frustrated, or worse: we can feel like failures. The solution is to understand and accept the Fundamental Law of Scheduling. In this session we will learn about the law and how to apply it.
From Inspiration to Reality
Retreats like this present parents and teachers with a banquet of living ideas. Living ideas inspire us, invigorate us, and have the power to change our lives. But Charlotte Mason would be the first to admit that good intentions alone aren’t enough to transform inspiration into reality, even for dedicated adults. Rather, we reap the full benefit of living ideas only when they become an automatic and integral part of our daily routines. The goal of this workshop is to lay the groundwork for that process. You’re invited to come to this session with a resolution you’ve made or an inspiration you’ve received. Together we’ll come up with a strategy to make it an ongoing part of your life.
Immersions
Saviour of the World Immersion
Charlotte Mason wrote, “Poetry is, perhaps, the most searching and intimate of our teachers… As we ’inwardly digest,’ reverence comes to us unawares…” Mason believed that poetry plays a crucial role in the spiritual formation of Christ’s disciples, so much so that she wrote six volumes of poems for use in school lessons. In this immersion session, we will experience an actual Bible lesson, illuminated by poetry, according to the method laid down by Mason herself.
Upper Level Math Immersion
Charlotte Mason applied her distinct approach to mathematics instruction all the way through to advanced algebra and trigonometry. In this session, we will conduct an actual Algebra II / Trigonometry lesson in the style of the PNEU. The only prerequisites are a basic understanding of algebra fundamentals and a desire to think and appreciate the beauty of mathematics. Come and see how advanced mathematics can be a joy for student and teacher alike.