Who Was Charlotte Mason? | A Brief Look at Her Life and Method
This post offers a brief introduction to Charlotte Mason, the educator whose revolutionary philosophy has inspired a deeply relational and literature-rich homeschool approach. While this isn’t a comprehensive review of her life or teaching method, it provides a foundational glimpse into her story and why her ideas continue to resonate with modern homeschool families.
The Life of Charlotte Mason
Charlotte Mason was born on January 1, 1842, and lived until January 16, 1923. She was a British educator who reshaped educational thought at the turn of the 20th century. Orphaned as a teenager, Mason enrolled at the Home and Colonial Society, where she earned a First Class Certificate in teaching.
She began her career teaching at the Davison School in Worthing, England, where her ideas about “a liberal education for all” began to take shape. At the time, “liberal” meant generous—an education rich in literature, nature, beauty, and truth, accessible not only to the elite but to every child.
The Charlotte Mason Philosophy
At the core of Charlotte Mason’s philosophy was the belief that education is not just the transmission of facts but the development of the whole person. She emphasized the importance of feeding a child’s heart and mind with noble ideas through literature, nature, and habit formation.
Some hallmarks of the Charlotte Mason method include:
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Short, focused lessons to promote attention
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Living Books instead of dry textbooks
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Narration to encourage comprehension and reflection
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Copywork and dictation for language development
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Nature study and journaling to foster observation and curiosity
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Afternoons free for exploration, hobbies, music, and creativity
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Habit training as a cornerstone of character development
For Mason, the goal of education was not merely knowledge, but wisdom, virtue, and a lifelong love of learning.
Her View on Scripture and Faith
Charlotte Mason’s educational method was deeply rooted in her Christian faith. She believed that a child’s knowledge of God was the most important subject to be taught and woven throughout the curriculum.
Memorization, particularly of Scripture and poetry, was encouraged not for rote recall but as a way to give children rich ideas to meditate on and carry into adulthood.
Mason’s Approach to Math and Physical Education
Mason believed that children should be taught to reason—not simply to repeat processes. In math, this meant fostering true understanding over mechanical calculation. In physical education, she prioritized activities such as walking, stretching, dancing, and singing to nourish the body alongside the mind.
Music, Arts, and Beauty in Education
Art and music were not extras in the Charlotte Mason approach—they were essentials. Children were introduced to classical composers, artists, and beautiful works to develop an appreciation for truth, goodness, and beauty.
Ambleside and the House of Education
In 1891, Charlotte Mason moved to Ambleside, a picturesque town in England’s Lake District, where she established the House of Education—a training school for governesses and educators.
Through this institution, she taught parents and teachers how to implement her method at home. Her ideas were shared widely through her written works, including The Home Education Series, and through the Parents’ National Education Union (PNEU)—an organization that guided homeschooling parents for decades after her death.
A Lasting Legacy
Though Charlotte Mason passed away in 1923, her ideas saw renewed interest in 1984 when Susan Schaeffer Macaulay published For the Children’s Sake. Since then, the Charlotte Mason Method has grown steadily among homeschoolers seeking a gentle, literature-rich, and relationship-based approach.
Today, her influence continues through modern curriculum and resources, including:
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The Charlotte Mason Show podcast with Julie Ross on Homeschooling.mom
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A Gentle Feast, a full Charlotte Mason curriculum created by Julie Ross at agentlefeast.com
Notable Works by Charlotte Mason
Many of Mason’s writings remain in use today, including:
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Home Education (1886)
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Parents and Children (1896)
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Ourselves (1889)
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School Education (1904)
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Towards a Philosophy of Education (1923)
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The Original Homeschooling Series (Books 1–6)
She also authored geography and history texts for various grade levels.
In Closing
Charlotte Mason’s work continues to inspire homeschooling families around the world with its emphasis on wonder, wisdom, and the whole child. Her gentle but deeply thoughtful method invites parents to rethink not just how children are taught—but how they are formed.
For those interested in learning more, consider exploring Charlotte Mason’s writings firsthand or tuning into the many modern resources that carry her legacy forward.
