science of relations
i’ve been slowly reading through karen andreola’s “a charlotte mason companion”. this summer i’ve decided to gradually prepare for the school year ahead, instead of my usual time-crunch-cram method. i thought i would share some insightful passages that i found inspiring.
“Rather than feeling it is our duty to pass children through a system, it should be our duty to ask ourselves how our children can acquire knowledge. ” p. 36
“It should not be ‘How much has our child covered?’ but ‘How much does he care?’ and ‘About how many things does he care?’. p. 37
“A true intellectual life is not achieved by exercising children’s minds as if they were nothing but memory machines.” p. 43
“Self-education by means of real books, narration, first-hand experience, and observation is such a very satisfying and rewarding process that it naturally continues throughout life. Self-education is not dependent on a system of artificial rewards, prizes, and grade scores, because it is not bound to a system of education, but a method of learning. A system and a method are two different things. A system depends on a cycle of tedium: read the textbook chapter, find the facts, and record them as answers to the chapter’s list of questions, take the test, get the grade, get it over with. A system makes the process more important than either the information or the learner. On the other hand, a method emphasizes the process by which the goal is attained. If the goal is an educated child, a variety of means will best achieve it.” p 44
thanks for these passages, caron. that last quote really made me realize how true this is of my life. as an adult i’ve followed more of a method for learning rather than a system. i find a topic i’m interested in and read on it and think on it and interact with it. but i don’t force myself to memorize random bits or finish learning about said subject within a certain limited timeframe. i just come at the topic from all angles and soak it all in and discuss it with others. and the topics i do this with are the ones i remember more about years later.
good stuff, friend.
kate o.
June 29, 2009 at 6:14 pm
i really like the picture of the kid on the hammock. and the more organic way of learning. the summer’s reaching it’s peak, autumn hovers on the edge, i’m still trying to go back to school in my heart. trying to think of a reason to buy school supplies. maybe i’ll get ben a trapper keeper. or read the book you quoted.
darby
July 3, 2009 at 6:28 am
get him a trapper keeper. annie has one and she loves it. has old colorings and notes and stuff in it. zips shut.
caron
July 6, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Hey Caron!
Thanks for sharing these!
I am praying for you as you prepare for school! I think that you are being wise in preparing gradually. Enjoy the process…
I pray that our charges will see a love for learning in us that is contagious!
Love ya, sister
stella
July 7, 2009 at 10:27 am