Charlotte Mason’s Principles-Children are Born Persons
My goal as I read through these principles is to see how they line up with the Holy Scriptures as I understand them. I will endeavour to find relevant scriptures and see what they say about the ideas that Charlotte expresses. Please feel free to add extra verses if they come to mind.
Children are born persons—what an obvious statement you might think. Of course they are people!
Well in today’s society for some people this principle is not always understood. Respect for life and even the unborn infant is often thought of as more of a possession than a complete human person. Genetic testing, abortion, even evolution all see the mass of cells that is a person as more of a scientific entity devoid of spirit but as Charlotte puts forth “children are born persons.” This of course lines up beautifully with what the Bible says.
Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
“ Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
Psalm 139: 1-5
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
Reading this chapter I was reminded that we need to respect the child and realise that they are unique people who need nourishment in their minds as much as adults. We are not to insult them with watered down ideas but rather give them food for their minds that delight and challenge them. We are also to be diligent with the food that we present to them.
Charlotte reminds us that the mind of a child is “astonishingly alert” and this mind is the instrument of his education. She challenges us to feed the mind with the food it needs—ideas!
“Our business is to give children the great ideas of life, of religion, history, science; but it is the ideas we must give, clothed upon with facts as they occur, and must leave the child to deal with as he chooses.”
The food of ideas is a core principle to much of Charlotte’s educational philosophy and this is a high call for us as homeschool parents as we examine the ideas we are presenting to our children. Charlotte was writing this book to share her ideas and I am now able to take those ideas captive into my mind and mull them over.
My closing scripture is Philippians 4:8;
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Hi Michelle,
I'm really looking forward to the next 19 principles! For me I think I'm learning the difference between giving my child food instead of shoving it down his throat. Jeremiah 1:4-5 has always given me goosebumps – He knew about me, thought about me and planned for me. Each person is valuable just because they exist, regardless of grades, finances, attractiveness etc.Thanks for reminding me. Blessings, Renelle
Not giving kids ideas to "chew" on is like putting them on a low-fat diet. They need ideas to grow their brains. Good thoughts.