Educating Persons

I’m thrilled to be on Mere Orthodoxy this week with an article on Charlotte Mason and her educational philosophy (which will surprise exactly no one).

I very much believe that we all need a Christian understanding of what it means to be a person. I think there is even a general, growing consensus that this is needed. Andy Crouch’s new book is one example. James K.A. Smith arguing that we are not brains-on-a-stick is another example that comes to mind.

And of course, this is not a new conversation. Charlotte Mason, for one, was advocating for children as persons in the late 1800s. She managed, though, what I think is lacking in some of the discussion about this currently: she began with the principle that children are born persons, and followed it to very, very practical ends.

If we really see children as persons, that must impact how we use our authority, how we motivate them, what we expect of them, what we believe they are capable of, and what we offer them.

I hope you enjoy the article!