Who is Charlotte Mason?
Charlotte Mason (1842–1923) was a British educator who pioneered a philosophy of education rooted in her foundational Christian beliefs that children are born persons—human beings, made in the image of God, with minds capable of knowing their Creator. Her method of education runs along the lines of 20 educational principles, which she developed over decades of thought and teaching experience. She emphasized that education is governed by Divine laws, much like the natural laws which govern the universe.
A few of her key principles to be considered by those responsible for teaching the Bible to children are as follows:
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Children are Born Persons. They have active and able spiritual minds, not simply physical brains, so educational efforts must account for such.
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Education is the Science of Relations. The child should have natural relations with a vast number of things and thoughts, which Mason divided into three sweeping categories–Knowledge of God, Knowledge of Man, and Knowledge of the Universe.
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Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, and a Life. The educator has three tools at their disposal to teach born persons—the atmosphere of environment, the discipline of habit, and the presentation of living ideas.
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For Bible teachers, Mason's philosophy encourages reverently reading Scripture to children, fostering habits of attention through narration, and discussing true, beautiful, and good ideas, which engages children’s imaginations and wills rather than entertaining them. Ultimately, her method calls for trust in God's good design for children's spiritual growth, offering a holistic and sacred view of education.