Charlotte Mason’s 20 Principles: An LDS Perspective

Overview

I have come to really love Charlotte Mason and the wisdom I find in her writings. No, she wasn’t a Latter-day Saint; she was Anglican. However, I think that by her diligent study and prayerfulness in the field of educational philosophy, she managed hit upon some precious nuggets of Truth about children and learning, even without access to the Restored Gospel. In this series of articles, I’ll examine Ms. Mason’s 20 Principles from our unique LDS perspective. —Jenna Dilts

Articles

Born Persons

This is the first post in a series explaining Charlotte Mason’s 20 principles in the context of the Restored Gospel. 1. Children are born persons. “In the first place, we take children seriously as persons like ourselves, only more so.” CM 3:63 “[… M]an is homogeneous, a spiritual being invested with a body…” CM 3:68 […]

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Born with Possibilities

This is the second post in a series explaining Charlotte Mason’s 20 principles in the context of the Restored Gospel. 2. [Children] are not born either good or bad, but with possibilities for good or evil. “If the development of character rather than of faculty is the main work of education, and if people are born, so […]

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The Fundamental Principles of Authority and Obedience

This is the third post in a series explaining Charlotte Mason’s 20 principles in the context of the Restored Gospel. 3. The principles of authority on the one hand and of obedience on the other, are natural, necessary, and fundamental… “For it is indeed true that none of us has a right to exercise authority, […]

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Authority Is Limited by Respect

This is the fourth post in a series explaining Charlotte Mason’s 20 principles in the context of the Restored Gospel. 4. These principles (i.e., authority and docility) 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 […]

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Narration is a Small and Simple Thing

Near the end of his life, Alma sat down with his son Helaman and gave him some final instructions. As he entrusted his son with the sacred records, Alma explained that the job was pretty straightforward: the Brass Plates and other Nephite records needed to stay bright. Well-cared for brass is shiny; I’ve got a […]

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