Charlotte Mason’s 8th Principle
By Dr. Shannon Whiteside, Program Director
Principle 8 states: 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.
Just as our body needs food to grow, our minds need food as well in order to grow and flourish. Mason states, “For the mind is capable of dealing with only one kind of food; it lives, grows and is nourished upon ideas only; mere information is to it as a meal of sawdust to the body; there are no organs for the assimilation of the one more than of the other.”
Facts are static and do not leave room for interpretation. They are black and white and there's no room for ambiguity. But we need that ambiguity to find space to think about what we are reading. That is one reason Mason used the literary form. It leaves room for interpretation, so as each student hears or reads the passage, they picture it a little differently and tell it back in their own words. Each child will emphasize different aspects of the events and characters and focus on different ideas that stood out to them. Reciting and memorizing facts does not leave any space for this individuality or interpretation of a text to take place.
Ideas also foster relationships. I can’t tell you about any historical character that I was interested in meeting when I was in school. They were all flat, one-dimensional people that lived in the past. What relation did they have to me? But reading biographies that tell you about a person’s experiences, struggles, and dreams brings a point of connection. These emotional connections affect one’s memory. The more emotions that are tied to the learning process, the more you will remember. There is also research that shows when there is an emotional tie to learning something, there is more of a chance for it to affect another real-life situation. Knowledge becomes applicable in other contexts as well. There is a lot more that could be said about the importance of ideas in a Charlotte Mason education. I hope you will join us Thursday, April 16th at 3:30 pm to discuss this important principle and how it applies to your learning context.
Spotlight: New Member Zoom calls happen a few times each month. Find them in the Hive under Upcoming Events. Not new? You’re still welcome. Join and ask your questions.
Notes:
- Member Survey: Can you help? We are in need of more survey responses ASAP. Your feedback helps shape what we create next and how we serve you better. This week’s gift card winner is LaShawne!
- Booklists: For the first time in Alveary history, our book lists will go public later this month! While we work with publishers to ensure stock, you might want to renew now and check used book sites to snag the best prices before everyone else sees the lists.
- Unbox With Us! Have you seen our latest unboxing video? Now it’s your turn! Show us what you’re opening—books, supplies, or lab kits—and tag us so we can share in the excitement.
- Student Showcase: Did you catch the Student Showcase blog in the latest CMI newsletter? We spotted some Alveary student work featured there. See it here and submit your student’s work.
- Charlotte Mason Research: Through its partnership with University of Cumbria, Charlotte Mason Institute is helping shape the future of Charlotte Mason studies at a global level. New appointments include: Dr. Shannon Whiteside, Alveary Program Director alongside a wider international group of scholars and practitioners. Read it here!
- Summer CMI Courses: Looking for opportunities to deepen your understanding of Charlotte Mason's ideas? Mark your calendars for March 25th, when registration will open for all Summer courses! Have questions? We'd love to talk with you at an upcoming open house!
- 2026 CMI Conference: We’d love to gift the first 5 people who register with promo code RELATIONAL26 a free spot at the pre-conference, A Morning of Relational Methods. If it doesn’t work, those first 5 spots have already been claimed. Learn more and register here.
- Friends & Fellow Labourers: Pull up a chair and join our virtual series where parents and educators come together to explore Charlotte Mason’s ideas and find fresh encouragement. Learn more here. BONUS: When you register for Alveary in April, you will get a complimentary ticket for one session!
- In the Company of Ideas: During the month of April, we will be discussing The Bullies and Saints: An Honest Look at the Good and Evil of Christian History over in the Hive. Grab a copy of the book and come join us! Here is a 30 minute video of the author discussing his book with us.
Have a wonderful weekend!
