You know those surprises I've mentioned as I've dug into Charlotte Mason's volume, Home Education? Surprises like science instruction? Nothing shocked me more than Charlotte Mason's advice on teaching history.
The ongoing debate (in America, anyways) is whether we should start with the relatively recent history of America, or go back further into the history of the countries from which America took root.
But, this is not Charlotte Mason's focus in Home Education. Instead, she said to not worry so much about teaching an entire history, at least until our children are nine, but to thoroughly develop an understanding of certain historical figures, a single person, until the time period is understood.
Doesn't this sound sweet and simple? Let me clarify that I did not simplify this, but this is what Charlotte Mason recommended in Home Education. You can find my other posts in this series here.
History
"The fatal mistake is in the notion that he must learn 'outlines,' or a baby edition of the whole history of England, or of Rome, just as he must cover the geography of all the world. Let him, on the contrary, linger pleasantly over the history of a single man, a short period, until he thinks the thoughts of that man, is at home in the ways of that period. " Home Education, page 280
Related: Phonics, Whole Language, and Charlotte Mason Reading Lessons
Instead of reading outlines are books filled with exhausting dates, she recommended reading biographies about or autobiographies from famous people. These books should be, if possible-
- Old. "The early history of a nation is far better fitted than its later records for the study of children, because the story moves on a few broad, simple lines..." Home Education, page 281-282
- Not specifically for children. "For the matter for this intelligent teaching of history, eschew, in the first place, nearly all history books written expressly for children." Home Education, page 281
- First-hand sources, when possible. "...let them get the spirit of history into them by reading, at least, one old chronicle written by a man who saw and knew something of what he wrote about, and did not get it at second-hand." Home Education, page 282
- Include myths. "But every nation has its heroic age before authentic history begins: there were giants in the land in those days, and the child wants to know about them." Home Education, pages 280-281
- Read Plutarch's Lives. "In the same way, readings from Plutarch's Lives will afford the best preparation for the study of Grecian or of Roman history.."
- Read Shakespeare. "Let him spend a year of happy intimacy with Alfred, 'the truth-teller,' with the Conqueror, with Richard and Saladin, or with Henry V --Shakespeare's Henry V -- and is victorious army. " Home Education, pages 280-281
Home Education Curriculum: History
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I'm not extremely eager to read Plutarch's Lives, but I did try to keep these recommendations in mind as I created our curriculum. One thing I noticed (that I mentioned in the introduction to this series,) is that the subjects aren't as isolated as they sometimes appear to be. Shakespeare isn't its own subject, it's a means for literature and for history. Myths don't need to be isolated to history. American myths look like folk tales, and I imagine we'll read some of those in literature.
With the previously mentioned things in mind, this is what I'm choosing for history during our first official year of homeschooling:
Native Americans- I chose to study Native Americans to approach early American history. While not all older books are culturally sensitive, I will use what Charlotte Mason referred to as "judicious skipping" and cut out any parts that are inaccurate or unfair.
The Book of Indians by Holling C Hollings- I made sure to buy a classic version of this book, as it looks like some reprints were copied incorrectly which make them impossible to read.
Pocahontas by Ingri and Edgar D'aulaire
Benjamin Franklin- I wanted to choose an early American figure, and frankly, I think Benjamin Franklin is just fascinating!
Benjamin Franklin by Ingry and Edgar D'aulaire
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
I will also consider reading Sacagawea by Joseph Bruchac, but I will need to pre-read it first.
A friend asked me why I didn't coordinate the history time period with the art work (I sort of did) and the literature I chose. For two reasons: Charlotte Mason didn't say to do that in this volume, and also, since we are studying people and not necessarily time periods, it doesn't seem completely necessary.
Hi! Did you end up liking “Sacagawea” by Joseph Bruchac?
Hi Erika! I pre-read the first few chapters, and I’m not sure if we’re going to read it after all. There were so many details, and I think my daughter might have a difficult time switching back and forth from perspectives. I think I’ll hang onto it for the future!
I find this approach to history really interesting. I’ve been spending a lot of time lately thinking about how to introduce history and geography come September and I think it hard to know what is too much and what is enough. Just because my eldest has turned 6 doesn’t mean lessons and subjects need to be heavy. I also have opted to not tie in artists and composers with the era of history we’re studying. Partly because it is way more work and I want to be a little more interested led in this area, but also because I believe they stand alone in themselves and can easily be added to a book of centuries to help the child piece things together over time.
I completely agree, Jessica! Our children are capable of learning from different time periods. Yes, I want our first year of homeschooling to be enjoyable and not too heavy, as well! I think that using biographies is a great way to do that!
I love the spirit of this, but there are a few things that are inaccurate, according to Mason’s programmes and other volumes. For instance, children didn’t solely read biography during these years, but started immediately on a history spine during their first year of school. Secondly, they didn’t read Plutarch’s lives until 5th grade or so. Shakespeare was, indeed, his own subject on the programmes, and also didn’t start until 4th or 5th grade, etc. Mason’s 1st volume gives a very limited perspective on how she actually put these thoughts into practice. However, I love the idea of simplicity, and Mason’s approach to history was beautifully simple. ?
Yes, my purpose in doing this was not to copy what she did in her schools, but what she recommended in the home. I’ve always wondered who decided which of her recommendations are worthier to follow than others 🙂 It really would be impossible to follow all of them, because they often contradict themselves. So, I’ve decided to be the judge on which ones to follow, rather than letting external voices decide. I invited the Holy Spirit into our home education, and this is where I was led.
I so very much agree, and I love the heart of that. <3 I just wanted to point out for readers that this isn't actually what she recommended for the home. Her programmes weren't written first for schools, they were written for homes. And, her recommendations developed over time, without a doubt, (there were 40 years of life and experience between volume 1 and volume 6), but even with that the recommendations in Volume 1 are hard to decipher and are often misrepresented. I love what you've come up with for your homeschool, and I have even often determined a similar plan for customers, but I just think it's important not to say that Mason recommended something that she didn't actually recommend, in context. 🙂
In today’s Charlotte Mason circles, it seems that he who reaches into the most obscure CM resources wins. And then people are made to believe that if they don’t follow ALL of Charlotte Mason’s recommendations perfectly, they will fail. In this way, “ministries” are capitalizing off of their interpretations of Charlotte Mason’s philosophy (Cindy Rollins wrote a really thought-provoking post on this very topic!) I choose to ignore all of this. Charlotte Mason was far less legalistic than her modern followers are. As you know, in her first volume, she said not to reduce it to a set of rules, but saying that you have to read such-and-such in this particular year is definitely a rule. I don’t think it’s fair to say her recommendations in her first volume are invalid because she also had more recommendations. I have given a clear context, explaining that there are many other recommendations, but these are the ones I’m choosing to follow for our first year. I call it Charlotte Mason with grace 🙂
I agree! I am a huge fan of both your content, and of Cindy. Her thoughts on this matter were wonderfully written and so very on -the- mark. I believe that if we were discussing this face to face, we would be on the same side of the discussion. 😉 It is hard to communicate clearly through comments online. I do not believe that any of Mason’s resources are obscure, as all are equally accessible (volumes AND programmes), and I believe that how far you dip into them reflects how much you want to implement her wisdom into your home. No, you don’t need them all to implement her principles, and reading more doesn’t make one better or wiser. But, there is MUCH wisdom in her practices as well as her principles, and those are found in both the volumes and the programmes (and the PR articles). Practices can, and SHOULD, be implemented with the grace and personalized approach of a wise momma with born persons. I believe that wholeheartedly. I am not a CM legalist or purist, and I abhor the modern CM legalism movement. Mason herself would abhor that. I simply believe that the more knowledge that we have, the more we can pray over and implement in our own way. Reading Volume 1 alone will leave a mom with a limited view of how Mason actually approached history. But, it won’t leave her without some principles that she can absolutely implement for a wonderful history program in her home. It’s up to each mom how much they want to know about how Mason actually approached history, and how much of what they discover that they actually want to implement. (Never reading THIS book in THIS year, as that would be nonsense….but reading TYPES of books and covering certain topics in certain fashions…. to the degree that each mom finds to be desirable.) Thank you for your replies and your open discussion. I appreciate that these things can be discussed without offense. I love, refer to, recommend, link to, use, and share your work and your website often, my friend. 🙂