Charlotte Mason Poetry

Editor's Note, by Art Middlekauff Felix Hope was a writer whose fascinating articles appeared in The Church Quarterly Review, The Parents' Review, and other vintage periodicals. His contributions to The Parents' Review spanned the years 1924 to 1931 and included such interesting titles as “Some Thoughts on Reading Old Books.” His articles from 1924 dealt … The post Readers and Critics first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Art Middlekauff Helen Wix was a House of Education graduate who played a significant role in the advancement of Charlotte Mason's ideas during Miss Mason's lifetime and beyond. As early as 1917 she was promoting the method by speaking at a meeting of Sunday School teachers. The paper she read was published … The post The PNEU Method in Sunday Schools first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Art Middlekauff The Teacher's World was a journal published in the first part of the last century. Originally it appeared as two separate periodicals, The Woman Teacher's World and The Teacher, but these were combined into one around 1914. The cover story of the March 4, 1914 issue was written by Charlotte … The post The Week's Message, by Charlotte Mason first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

“On my arrival at Ambleside I was interviewed by Miss Mason who asked me for what purpose I had come. I replied: ‘I have come to learn to teach.' Then Miss Mason said: ‘My dear, you have come here to learn to live.'” — a new student at Charloe Mason's teacher training college It is … The post Learning to Live first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Richele Baburina 2025 marks the 250th year of Jane Austen's birth. In celebration, we are adding another article to our Jane Austen repertoire. This one comes in the form of a Scale How Tuesday, an evening gathering in which a teaching student at the House of Education presents on a favorite author … The post Jane Austen first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Art Middlekauff In 1906 “the head of an important school” approached Charlotte Mason and suggested that she convene a conference of educational leaders. The purpose would be “to confer as to the possibility of introducing a common curriculum for children under 14 into secondary schools.”[1] Charlotte Mason followed the suggestion, at least … The post Conference at the House of Education first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Art Middlekauff The final Scale How Meditation to be published in Charlotte Mason's lifetime appeared in the 1909 Parents' Review. However, and perhaps to the surprise of readers, a new meditation was unveiled two years after Mason's death in the April 1925 issue. It was said to be Miss Mason's Easter Day … The post Easter Day first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note. This letter from Charlotte Mason was first published in The Times and then reprinted in the April 1915 issue of The Parents' Review. In this letter Mason formally addressed the nation as the doyen, or senior representative, of teachers. By Charlotte M. Mason The Parents' Review, 1915, pp. 269-274 Sir,—This is a time … The post The War And The Children first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

You might recall the homeschool product reviews the Andreola family wrote for a Christian catalog for 14 years (2000–2014). Who knew anything about the quantity of stuff we didn't review? Here's a look at one evening during our last year of writing reviews. Another Box of Curriculum Samples Letting the dishes soak, I decided to … The post Escaping the Clutches of the Cadillac Course first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Art Middlekauff The final issue of Aunt Mai's Budget opened with these lines: My dear Children,—This month I am very, very sad. The time has come when I feel I must say good-bye to you… For eight happy years we have lived together, and I have watched you all growing with the … The post A Letter to the Children first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

“Prayer is the key to open the day and the bolt to shut in the night.” — Jeremy Taylor, The Golden Key Did you know that Charlotte Mason talks about prayer in each of her six volumes? Her words on this subject are some of the most precious to me and have truly strengthened my … The post Prayer: Speech of the Soul first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Art Middlekauff On January 23, 1918, a PNEU-sponsored meeting was held at the University College of London. The purpose was to discuss the adoption of the Charlotte Mason method in the schools of England. The speakers included the Director of Education in Bradford, a school headmaster, and two headmistresses. At 2:30, attention … The post A Liberal Education for All (H. W. Household) first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

In December and January, the Classical Et Cetera podcast of Memoria Press released a three-part series entitled “Charlotte Mason Explained: A Classical Education Perspective.” These recorded conversations between four classical education experts provoked much reaction and discussion within the Charlotte Mason community. Although opinions vary, I think there is one thing we can all agree … The post Ask Art #6 — A Classical Education Perspective on Charlotte Mason first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Art Middlekauff Claude Jenkins (1877–1959) was a Church of England clergyman and historian. He was Lambeth Librarian from 1910 to 1952 and taught Ecclesiastical History at King's College in London.[1] An avid collector of books, he was said to have acquired 30,000 by the end of his life.[2] Known for his eccentricities … The post Things New and Old first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Dawn Rhymer “There is, at the present time, a broad distinction made between science and the humanities.” — Dr. Telford Petrie, 1928 I smiled, as in reading the words of Dr. Petrie, I recognized a friend. Almost a century after Dr. Petrie published his ideas, I heard author and speaker Dr. Jonathan … The post A Note on the Teaching of School Science first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note: Ellen Parish delivered this address at the PNEU Conference of 1914. At the time, she was the General Organizing Secretary of the PNEU. For more information about Ellen Parish, see last week's article. By E. A. Parish The Parents' Review, 1914, pp. 379-390[1] Mrs. Gray has made us all feel the great need … The post Imagination as a Powerful Factor in a Well-Balanced Mind first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Art Middlekauff Ellen Alice Parish (1869–1947) “devoted 34 years of her active life to forwarding the work of Charlotte M. Mason.” The Parents' Review in 1947 summarized her legacy: She was trained by [Mason] at the Home of Education, Ambleside. Afterwards she became General and Organizing Secretary of the P.N.E.U. in London, … The post The Teaching of History to Young Children first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Art Middlekauff Barbara Webber was born in 1893 near London, and at age 17 her skill as a writer became known when her first short stories were published. She then married George Hodges and they had three children.[1] For some time she home educated her children using the Charlotte Mason method, and … The post Should Children Reason? first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note by Richele Baburina Scale How Evenings or Scale How Tuesdays were devised by Charlotte Mason for her teaching students at the House of Education to “amuse and edify one another” by having them choose a “favourite author, musician, or artist, with one member giving a sketch of the life and the others supplying … The post The Brontës first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Art Middlekauff The opening article of the eleventh issue of The Parents' Review was entitled “Dorothy Elmore's Achievement: A Forecast of the New Education, By the Editor.” Divided into five chapters and published in January 1891, it spanned 19 pages of Charlotte Mason's fledgling periodical. An early reader was struck by this … The post The Cure of a Mental Habit first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Charlotte Mason & The Classical Tradition Revisited As conflicting modern ideas about education cast us about, many have dug into the very bedrock of western thought looking for inspiration and a stable base; and while much that is good has come to us via the great Greek thinkers, there is a particular fallacy that says: … The post “God with Us” as the Lost Tool of Education first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note. Today we share the ninth chapter of Children and the Stress of Life by Dr. Helen Webb. This chapter also appeared in the Parents' Review in 1914 and 1929. For more information about Dr. Webb and her book, please see last week's editor's note. by Helen Webb Children and the Stress of Life, … The post Seed Time first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Art Middlekauff In 1929, the PNEU published a small hardcover book entitled Children and the Stress of Life, composed of chapters by Dr. Helen Webb. I was thrilled when I finally got to see this little volume in 2023. Dr. Webb was one of Charlotte Mason's oldest friends and was endearingly referred … The post Early Influences first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note. Today we conclude our Advent series of sermons by Rev. Francis Lewis. See the December 10th episode for more information about this dear friend of Charlotte Mason. By the Rev. F. Lewis The Parents' Review, 1920, pp. 399–402 “Flower in the crannied wall, I pluck you out of the crannies, I hold you … The post The Mystery of the Kingdom of God first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note. Today we continue our Advent series of sermons by Rev. Francis Lewis. See last week's episode for more information about this dear friend of Charlotte Mason. By the Rev. F. Lewis The Parents' Review, 1918, pp. 425-429 There is a close connection between the two things. It was a “heavenly vision” which changed … The post Transfiguration or the Heavenly Vision first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Art Middlekauff Rev. Francis Lewis was the headmaster of a grammar school in Ambleside for eighteen years. During this time he became an examiner for the Parents' Union School and then a part-time instructor at the House of Education. Charlotte Mason named him in her will as one of the individuals entrusted … The post The Nobility of Work first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Art Middlekauff Joseph H. Allen was a Lancashire educationalist who lectured on educational topics and was also known for his service to the elderly.[1] He contributed multiple articles to The PNEU Journal, and his 1975 piece on the teacher is striking for its faithfulness to Charlotte Mason's ideas so many decades after … The post The Whole Teacher first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Art Middlekauff On August 14, 1913, Avice M. Cox became the wife of A. V. Cecil Moore.[1] Avice was a House of Education graduate from the class of 1903[2] whose work had appeared in The Parents' Review.[3] Her groom was a teacher at a boys' preparatory school. Through their relationship, Mr. Moore … The post Examinations and the PNEU first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Art Middlekauff Miss B. E. Moore was the headmistress of a girls' elementary school “in one of London's most needy districts.”[1] In the early 1920s, she decided to adopt the Charlotte Mason method. Soon afterwards she gave a lecture during which she was reportedly “enthusiastic over the results of P.N.E.U. methods during … The post Citizenship and Literature first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

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 … The post Technology: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Heidi Buschbach Last week, Part I of this article was posted, so if you would like to read more about the history of Morris Dance or the Espérance Club, or the reasons why we include folk dance in our Charlotte Mason curriculum, please read that editor's note and article. Here in Part … The post Something About Morris and Country Dances, Part II first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Heidi Buschbach Why do we dance? Why was folk dance included in Charlotte Mason's programmes? Why would an article which describes the history of collecting folk dances matter enough to be included in a Parents' Review article in 1914? Why does it matter to you and me? Mason expressed in her volumes … The post Something About Morris and Country Dances first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

When Charlotte Mason published her fifth volume in 1906, she seemed to have decided it was time to move on to other projects. With the publication of Some Studies in the Formation of Character, the Home Education Series was complete. Having apparently said all that she had to say on the subject of education, it … The post The Story of An Essay Towards a Philosophy of Education first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Art Middlekauff Last week we shared Arthur Burrell's “Recitation: The Children's Art,” the ground-breaking 1890 article that paved the way for his 1891 book Recitation: A Handbook for Teachers. In this book, which was heartily endorsed and recommended by Charlotte Mason in Home Education, Burrell carefully explained the differences between reading aloud, … The post The Art of Story-Telling first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Art Middlekauff The inaugural issue of The Parents' Review appeared in February 1890. The second issue, published in March, contained a groundbreaking article that initiated reverberations which continue even to our day. The article was by Arthur Burrell and was the first of several articles he would write for The Parents' Review … The post Recitation: The Children's Art first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

“Who aimeth at a star, Shoots higher, far, Than he who means a tree.” Charlotte Mason quotes this phrase from the poet George Herbert when describing “the power and beauty of a holy youth” (Formation of Character, p. 209). She chides us for not having a higher standard when it comes to the religious training … The post A Programme for Sunday Reading first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Art Middlekauff The May 1952 “memories” issue of The Parents' Review offered many vivid recollections of the early days and later developments of the Charlotte Mason movement and the House of Education. Our final transcription from the memories issue is this article by Joyce van Straubenzee, who was then the principal of … The post The Charlotte Mason College first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Back in 2021 I interviewed Anesley Middlekauff when she had just completed her first semester at Iowa State University. We talked about the enormous transition from a Charlotte Mason high school to a campus of 30,000 students. At the time I couldn't help but wonder what the next three years had in store for her. … The post From Charlotte Mason to College and Beyond first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Art Middlekauff In the November/December 1971 issue of The PNEU Journal, Joan L. Molyneux concluded her systematic overview of the educational philosophy of Charlotte Mason. In this final chapter, she explains how Charlotte Mason's first principle is the essential and unifying element of the philosophy. by Joan L. Molyneux The PNEU Journal, … The post The Educational Philosophy of Charlotte Mason (6 of 6) first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Art Middlekauff In the September/October 1971 issue of The PNEU Journal, Joan L. Molyneux continued her systematic overview of the educational philosophy of Charlotte Mason. In this chapter, she explores the third instrument of education: “education is a life.” by Joan L. Molyneux The PNEU Journal, 1971, pp. 198–204 5. Living Ideas … The post The Educational Philosophy of Charlotte Mason (5 of 6) first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Art Middlekauff In the July/August 1971 issue of The PNEU Journal, Joan L. Molyneux continued her systematic overview of the educational philosophy of Charlotte Mason. In this chapter, she explores the second instrument of education: “education is a discipline.” by Joan L. Molyneux The PNEU Journal, 1971, pp. 154–160 4. Freedom and … The post The Educational Philosophy of Charlotte Mason (4 of 6) first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Art Middlekauff In the May/June 1971 issue of The PNEU Journal, Joan L. Molyneux continued her systematic overview of the educational philosophy of Charlotte Mason. In this chapter, she explores the first instrument of education: “education is an atmosphere.” by Joan L. Molyneux The PNEU Journal, 1971, pp. 98–104 3. The Child's … The post The Educational Philosophy of Charlotte Mason (3 of 6) first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Art Middlekauff In the March/April 1971 issue of The PNEU Journal, Joan L. Molyneux continued her systematic overview of the educational philosophy of Charlotte Mason. She called it the “Masonian” philosophy, a term we do not use today, but which nevertheless respects Mason's wish that her method be “protected by the name … The post The Educational Philosophy of Charlotte Mason (2 of 6) first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Art Middlekauff Joan L. Molyneux (1908–1986) once wrote, “I have always lived within the sphere of influence of Charlotte Mason, as my parents became PNEU members before I was born.” She “was taught at home by a PNEU governess until she went to the PNEU School in Burgess Hill in 1921,” and … The post The Educational Philosophy of Charlotte Mason (1 of 6) first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Art Middlekauff E. C. Allen was a student at the House of Education from 1897–1898 where she interacted extensively with Charlotte Mason. During that time she also met Julia Firth, a student of John Ruskin who became a major force in the development of picture study in the PNEU.[1] In 1904, Miss … The post A Letter From E. C. Allen first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Why and How We Started Writing Poetry The word poetry can conjure up many thoughts and emotions in different people. Some remember with fondness a favourite poem or two; others reflect on a favourite poet; there are those who can recite any number of poems; and then there are those who are filled with a … The post Poetry-Making first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

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 … The post Guide, Philosopher, and Friend first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Art Middlekauff After reading about the House of Education under the principalships of Ellen Parish and Joyce van Straubenzee, readers of the “memories” issue of The Parents' Review were treated to a memoir of the time when Charlotte Mason herself was the principal of the school. Kathleen Conder arrived at the House … The post Memories of Scale How first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Editor's Note, by Art Middlekauff In 1937, Essex Cholmondeley resigned from her position as the third principal of the House of Education. She was succeeded by Miss Joyce van Straubenzee, who presided over the renaming of the school to the Charlotte Mason College in 1938. Miss Straubenzee had previously served as the principal of the … The post Charlotte Mason College Students in 1952 first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

I recently received a text message from a fellow Charlotte Mason educator. “It's interesting,” she wrote, “to meet another mom who is doing Charlotte Mason and just told me that she has never read any of the 6 volumes.” My friend's message revealed a common assumption: anyone who is really “doing Charlotte Mason” is also … The post Idyll Challenge V first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Tucked away in northwest England, Ambleside continues to represent the geographical heart of a Charlotte Mason education for many. The stunning landscape of the region is punctuated by sparkling blue lakes, rolling green hills, and meadows adorned with wildflowers so celebrated by the poetry of William Wordsworth. While novelist Daniel Defoe declared it to be … The post Education in the Far-Flung Chain of the Empire first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.