Sunday, August 7, 2011

Charlotte Mason Wisdom






































"The habits of the child produce the character of the man, because certain mental habitudes once set up, their nature is to go on for ever unless they should be displaced by other habits. Here is an end to the easy philosophy of, 'It doesn't matter.' 'Oh, he'll grow out of it,' 'He'll know better by-and-by,' 'He's so young, what can we expect?' and so on. Every day, every hour, the parents are either passively or actively forming those habits in their children upon which, more than upon anything else, future character and conduct depend." (CM Original Homeschooling Series Vol.1, pp. 118)

"This is the law of habit, which holds good as much in doing kindnesses as in playing the piano. Both habits come by practice; and that is why it is so important not to miss a chance of doing the thing we mean to do well. We must not amuse ourselves with the notion that we have done something when we have only formed a good resolution. Power comes by doing and not by resolving, and it is habit that serves us, whether it be the habit of Latin verse or of carving. Also, and this is a delightful thing to remember, every time we do a thing helps to form the habit of doing it; and to do a thing a hundred times without missing a chance, makes the rest easy." (CM Original Homeschooling Series Vol.4, Book 1, pp. 208,209)


3 comments:

Leslie said...

She was a wise woman. I especially love her thoughts on habits. Those must be some of your adorable grandchildren. =)

debbie bailey said...

Yes, you're right. All four of my grandsons are here as well as my handsome son-in-law.

Dr Ben Bernier said...

Dear Debbie Bailey,

My name is Dr. Benjamin Bernier,

I am a pastor, who made his doctoral dissertation studying Charlotte Mason's Philosophy.

I came across your blog looking for people interested in Charlotte Mason who may like to know about my recent publication:

Scale How 'Meditations' by Charlotte M. Mason,
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/scale-how-meditations/15100538#detailsSection

The meditations are mainly a record of a series of Sunday talks delivered by Charlotte Mason during the year 1898, at the House of Education, "Scale How" in Ambleside Uk, where she presents a verse by verse commentary on the first chapters of the Gospel according to St. John.

I found this collection while doing research at the Armitt library in Ambleside. Most people are not aware that Mason wrote these, and that they are an amazing source of devotional inspiration, a direct disclosure of Mason's religious views and instructive in the art of Christian meditation.

That is why I am spreading the word so that more people may benefit from this important resource in Charlotte Mason's work.

Let me know if you have any question,

You may find more information at my blog:
http://educationforthekingdom.blogspot.com/

Thank you for your time and attention, At your service,

Dr. Benjamin Bernier

--
“This duty of devout meditation seems to me the most important part of the preparation of the mother or other teacher who would instruct children in the things of the Divine life.”
Charlotte M. Mason.

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The Rev. Dr. Benjamin E. Bernier
benbernier@providencerec.org
http://educationforthekingdom.blogspot.com/
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