Living Books and Life Experience

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Welcome to the September 2010 edition of A Living Education E-zine!

I am reading a fascinating book at the moment and it has been reminding me of why we chose a Charlotte Mason education for our children. (I will let you in on the title in a moment.)

The title of this ezine as you know is “A Living Education” and how that works in our home is by making sure our children have a living connection with their subjects, passions and learning.

This book epitomizes both of these elements. Consider this quote: “Education should provide the tools for a widening and deepening of life for an increased appreciation of all one sees or experiences. It should equip a person to live life well, to understand what is happening about him, for to live life well one must live with awareness.”

This author also shares: “I think the greatest gift anyone can give another is the desire to know, to understand. Life is not simply watching spectator’s sports, of for taking part in them; it is not for simply living from one working day to the next. Life is for delving, discovering, learning. Today, one can sit in the comfort of his own home and explore any part of the world or even outer space through books. They are all around us, offering such riches as can scarcely be believed.”

This author may be better known for his novels (mainly westerns), of which he wrote more than 100. His name is Louis L’Amor and is currently my 13 year old son’s favorite author.

Charlotte Mason

Charlotte Mason says that our children should be educated by the great storytellers of the past, those who have lived what they write about. When I noticed my son’s love for Louis L’Amor’s novels I decided to delve into his life to see what his testimony was.

His memoirs contained in “Education of a Wandering Man” offer a glimpse into a life lived well and the fruit of his self made education through experience and books.

Leaving school in 10th grade he hoboed across America, worked on ships and in shipyards around the world but while he was stocking up on life experience he never left the world of books.

Brushing shoulders with some rough characters and scary situations – in human and animal form – shaped this beloved storyteller into the man he became. At times there were no choices over the books available to read, for instance when he was the caretaker of a mine for 3 months in the Mojave Desert. But that didn't stop him from pursuing his learning with whatever was available, it books left behind by previous caretakers or the old Indian man who lived on the claim alongside.

Charlotte Mason says in a similar vein: “In urging a method of self education for children in lieu of the vicarious education that prevails,...the difference is just that between driving a horse that is light and a horse that is heavy in hand; the former covers the ground of his own happy will and the driver goes merrily.” Charlotte Mason, Philosophy of Education

She also says: "The teacher [parent] who allows his [her] scholars the freedom of the city of books is at liberty to be their guide, philosopher and friends; and is no longer the instrument of forcible intellectual feeding." Charlotte Mason, Philosophy of Education.

Aren’t these important teachings to hold in our minds as we go about our daily role as parents and educators of our children?

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Quote

"Somewhere along the line I had fallen in love with learning, and it became a life long romance. Early on I discovered it was fun to follow along the byways of history to find those treasures that await any searcher." Louis L’Amor.

Living books

Mr L’Amor’s personal library held more than 17 000 books. For the years that he kept track of the books he read, he read between 80 and 120 books per year. Titles range from Plato to Nietzsche, Shakespeare to Emily Bronte to other contemporary plays and poetry of the time.

Education of a Wandering Man has lists of the books he read in the back. Not all are suitable for Christian reading, but the list is certainly impressive.

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Take care until next time,
God’s richest blessings to you as you homeschool,
Wendy

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