Styles: Charlotte Mason
Educating by Faith,
Not Fear
By Karen Andreola
Many a home teacher has developed a discriminating eye for learning materials. She sifts through cata- logs. She walks the aisles of the
homeschool conference. Soon the rooms of her
house become inundated with stuff.
To create a neat environment, I organized our stuff. Art supplies
and math manipulatives were kept in an antique pie safe within
reach of the dining room table, where most lessons took place. Our
picture for art appreciation was propped up on the oak buffet. The
library books were nestled in a folksy basket by the sofa.
Learning materials and environment are two visible things that
contribute to the contented hum of the intellectual life. Something
else is also needed, something not so obvious. That something is
atmosphere, the atmosphere of education. The atmosphere of education promotes learning as much as the best learning materials
do. In fact, it reflects the difference between faith and fear in home
teaching.
62 Summer 2010 z Styles: Charlotte Mason
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