The 20 Principles. {an overview}

In an education based on Charlotte Mason's principles, most everything rests on the Personhood of the child; matter of fact, the personhood of every person. :)




Over the next months, by way of the Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival, we'll have a chance to think more about CM's 20 Principles and how they relate to and work out in how we teach our kiddos. I'm really looking forward to ruminating more about these and how they can improve the way I teach. I hope you'll join us!*

Schedule w/ an abbreviated summary of each principle:

June 12 - Principle #1. Children are born persons.

June 26 - Principles #2, 3 & 4 - (2) They are not born either good or bad, but with possibilities for good and for evil. (3) The principles of authority on the one hand, and of obedience on the other, are natural, necessary and fundamental; but–– (4) These principles are limited by the respect due to the personality of children, which must not be encroached upon whether by the direct use of fear or love, suggestion or influence, or by undue play upon any one natural desire.

July 10 - Principles #5-8 - "Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life."

July 24 - Principle #9 & 10 - (9) We hold that the child's mind is no mere sac to hold ideas... (10) Such a doctrine... lays the stress of education... upon the teacher. Children taught on this principle are in danger of receiving much teaching with little knowledge.

August 7 - Principle #11 - But we... give him a full and generous curriculum; taking care only that all knowledge offered him is vital, that is, that facts are not presented without their informing ideas.

August 21 - Principle #12 - "Education is the Science of Relations"; that is, that a child has natural relations with a vast number of things and thoughts.

September 18 - Principle #13 - In devising a SYLLABUS for a normal child, 3 points - (a) He requires much knowledge, (b) varied, and (c) communicated in well chosen language.

October 2 - Principles #14 & 15 - (14) Children should 'tell back' after a single reading or hearing: or should write on some part of what they have read. (15) A single reading is insisted on, because children have naturally great power of attention; but this force is dissipated by the re-reading of passages, and also, by questioning, summarising.

October 16 - Principles #16 & 17 - (16) 2 guides to moral and intellectual self-management to offer to children - 'the way of the will' and 'the way of the reason.' (17) The way of the will: " ... "

October 30 - Principles #16 & 18 - (16) 2 guides to moral and intellectual self-management to offer to children - 'the way of the will' and 'the way of the reason.' (18) The way of reason: " ... "

November 13 - Principle #19 - Therefore, children should be taught... that the chief responsibility which rests on them as persons is the acceptance or rejection of ideas ... "

November 27 - Principle #20 - We allow no separation to grow up between the intellectual and 'spiritual' life of children, but teach them that the Divine Spirit has constant access to their spirits, and is their Continual Helper in all the interests, duties and joys of life.


Charlotte Mason's 20 Principles to Education can be found and read in their entirety at the beginning of every volume of the Home Education Series or online here.


*The CM blog carnival is open to all CM-related posts every carnival. Please don't feel that if you post about something other than the scheduled topic that your post is less important! ALL posts are welcome! As always the topics are optional, and are provided in order to be a help for those needing ideas, not to be a hindrance of any kind! :) We look forward to reading your posts! Submit them here: charlottemasonblogs (at) gmail (dot) com.