Charlotte Mason’s philosophy of education is simple: Education an atmosphere, a discipline, a life.

"When we say that education is an atmosphere, we do not mean that a child should be isolated in what may be called a 'child-environment' especially adapted and prepared, but that we should take into account the educational value of his natural home atmosphere, both as regards persons and things, and should let him live freely among his proper conditions. It stultifies a child to bring down his world to the child's level."(One of the major differences between Charlotte Mason and Maria Montessori)

"By education is a discipline, we mean the discipline of habits, formed definitely and thoughtfully, whether habits of mind or body. Physiologists tell us of the adaptation of brain structures to habitual lines of thought, i.e., to our habits."

"In saying that education is a life, the need of intellectual and moral as well as of physical sustenance is implied. The mind feeds on ideas, and therefore children should have a generous curriculum."
Charlotte Mason, Original Homeschooling Series.

Let’s look at each of these points individually.

Education is an Atmosphere

"The parent sets the peaceful high expectational atmosphere." Bill St Cyr – Ambleside Schools

Here our starting point is what atmosphere is in our home. I mentioned earlier that we need to have a home that is free from the need to perform for acceptance. In the same way that we as valuable children of God cannot earn our Father’s love, that it is a free gift.

How does mom feel, what does she look like and how does she behave? Moms have the ability to influence the home atmosphere just by a look or a comment. There is a saying “If the mom is not happy, then no one is happy.” This couldn’t be truer in my own home. When I have the grumps or am battling with PMT then there is a cloud over our home. The moment I choose to change my attitude the cloud lifts. Read more here

Next we need to look at what our homes say. Are they inviting...warm and stimulating for children and adults? Are you drowning in clutter and dirty dishes? Do you know where your school books are? Look at my organized mom pages .

Charlotte Mason placed a huge amount of importance on the thought life of children. She says that a child’s thought life hangs around them as an atmosphere.

“Ideas are held in that thought environment which surrounds the child as an atmosphere, in which he breathes in unconscious ideas of right living emanating from his parents. Every look of gentleness and tone of reverence, ever word of kindness and act of help, passes into the thought environment, the very atmosphere he breathes.”

We can create an atmosphere that fluctuates with our moods and busyness. We can slow the pace of our lives and create a peaceful environment. We can also allow our children to fill their minds with valuable thoughts or ones that are frivolous and time wasting. It is our job as parents to give our children a wealth of ideas to think on. Ideas are the things that energize and motivate.

Education is not knowing a whole lot of facts - it is a relationship with ideas. Ideas are the beginning of a relationship with a topic. How do we do this? Living books, music, art, people, life, God’s creation.

Read more about Education based on relations with ideas.

This is the area that most of us get bogged down in. We focus on the discipline of education as we insist that our child fill in multiple choices, answer questions with one word, read dry boring regurgitated facts. But in Charlotte Mason’s 6th volume she spends more than 1/3 explaining how to form habits in your children. This is the discipline part of education.
Charlotte Mason says when talking about self education: “I want so much for children. Every modern educational trend tends to underrate their intellectual ability”

The habit side of education can be any of the following:

Intellectual Habits:

Attention,

Completion,

Narration,

Perfect execution,

Creativity,

Remembering,

Obedience,

Inquisitiveness...

This takes time to cultivate in your child. Charlotte Mason’s expectation of a child is to do just one thing at a time, perfectly.

Moral Habits:

Kindness,

Truth,

Respect,

Joy,

Patience,

Self government,

Honor,

Obedience.

These are the ongoing habits that parents instill in their children called: child training, moral intelligence or biblical principals.

Personal Habits

Self care,

Hygiene,

Chores and other lifeskills.

These habits are the ones that will make them able to survive in the world on their own. Lifeskills are one of the most valuable skills that you can impart to your child. Not just how to cook and clean, but how to live.

Christine Fields says it in her book Lifeskills For Kids that working alongside your children in these tasks can “…be the healer of wounded hearts and the vehicle of life instruction.” She also states: “The attitudes and attributes that make a good employee are the same attitudes and attributes that make a good kid”

Relational habits

Listening,

Respect,

Serving,

Boundaries.

These habits build on the moral and educational habits. They build relationships within the family and without.

When we accept that our role is not to fill an empty receptacle with knowledge but rather instruct and guide children in habits and create a rich thought environment we are able to release ourselves and our children from all sorts of pressures. Our goal should be, as was Charlotte Masons, to help children to live well. They are able to strengthen their wills by learning good habits that will guide them through their lives. Following onto this is...

Education is a Life

The third aspect that Charlotte Mason believed in is Education is a life. This is the most neglected area in schools and even some homeschools where dry boring facts are given to children and told this is mind stuff.

This idea is contrary to the textbook based systems as education is seen as your life, everything around your child takes on new meaning.
Every acquaintance, every book, every outing takes on a dimension of real life learning that they never had before. Beyond real life relationships with all kinds of people from librarian to craftsman comes Living Books.

In living books are the living ideas that children feed upon.“...children have no natural appetite for twaddle, and a special literature for children is probably far less necessary than the booksellers would have us suppose…What they want is to be brought into touch with living thought of the best, their intellectual life feeds upon it without meddling on our part.”

And

“A child’s mind...is rather a spiritual organism with an appetite for all knowledge. This is its proper diet, with which it is prepared to deal, and which it can digest and assimilate as the body does foodstuffs.”Charlotte Mason

Many moms want to embrace this but find it hard to validate. They want a product of their child’s learning, a set number of pages completed daily or a visible project completed. And if your children have been feed information daily for a long time, it will take longer for this validation process to settle in your heart. They may even have their souls gripped by boredom.

How do I implement education an atmosphere?

Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help and insight in your homeschool

Work on one habit at a time

Add in many living books for all subjects.

Make time to study artist and listen to music.

Shorten your lessons

Approach language arts with narration, copy work and dictation.

Try to move more to the back as a teacher and rather be a mentor.

Other Charlotte Mason "How To" articles:
Nature Study
Art Appreciation
Education: an atmosphere, a discipline, a life
Music Appreciation
Poetry Tea Times

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