Pursuing Classical Education: Personal Influences
Pursuing Classical Education Series
Pursuing Classical Education: Introduction Pursuing Classical Education: Personal Influences Pursuing Classical Education: Summary of the Parts Pursuing Classical Education: Keeping Education Forefront
Pursuing Classical Education II
First, here are the books and other influences I’ve had over the past four years that have helped inform and shape my opinion. I’m not listing only ones I agree with, but all (that I can remember, anyway) the books on education that I have read. I don’t remember the order I read them in, and several I have read multiple times, so I have simply listed them alphabetically. The bolded titles are the ones that have been most influential, the ones on my shelf I consider essential, the ones I revisit often. However, as I look at what I’ve bolded, each of them comes from a different perspective, and, actually, a fairly different camp; perhaps that’s why I have such trouble articulating a cohesive philosophy. I put a star next to the books I own.
*The Abolition of Man, C.S. Lewis Better Late Than Early
, Raymond Moore (my review) The Big Book of Home Learning
, Mary Pride *The Case for Classical Christian Education
, Douglas Wilson *Classical Education and the Homeschool
, Wes Callihan & others *Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum
, Laura Berquist *Educating the Wholehearted Child
, Clay & Sally Clarkson For the Children’s Sake
, Susan Schaeffer Macaulay Homeschooling: The Early Years
, Linda Dobson *Latin-Centered Curriculum, 2nd edition, Andrew Campbell “Lost Tools of Learning“, Dorothy Sayers More Charlotte Mason Education
, Catherine Levison (our library only had this book, but not the first) *Norms and Nobility
, David Hicks *The Paideia of God
, Douglas Wilson Pocketful of Pinecones
, Karen Andreola (actually, I couldn’t finish this one; treacle) *Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning
, Douglas Wilson *Repairing the Ruins
, various authors *The Seven Laws of Teaching
, John Milton Gregory Teaching the Trivium
, Harvey & Laurie Bluedorn (I did own this for a couple years, but was finally able to sell it for a decent price) *The Three R’s
, Ruth Beechick The Well-Trained Mind
, Susan Wise Bauer & Jessie Wise *Wisdom and Eloquence
, Robert Littlejohn & Charles Evans
I also learned much from Cindy Rollins, Mental Multivitamin, Brandy at Afterthoughts, Simply Charlotte Mason, & Kendra at Preschoolers and Peace. If you are in short supply of free reading, I have also kept bookmarks of blog posts and websites I like regarding education. When we were involved in starting a classical school, we purchased several sets of ACCS conference talks, and I’ve collected free downloads from WordMP3 on education over the years as well. Most recently, I purchased CIRCE Institute‘s 2009 conference set, and it is really bringing all these years of reading and thinking together. Other than what directly relates to education, I also have a hobby of reading about sixteenth-century England, and the education Queen Elizabeth I received has shaped my perception of classical learning.
Also, I enjoy an occasional book about the decline of western civilization and culture, and that also has shaped my perception of the problem and solution that education works toward. Following are some of those books:
*Amusing Ourselves to Death, Neil Postman *Angels in the Architecture
, Doug Jones & Doug Wilson How the Irish Saved Civilization
, Thomas Cahill *Leisure: The Basis Of Culture
, Joseph Pieper Plowing in Hope
, David Hegeman *The Twilight of American Culture
, Morris Berman
Moreover, I am a postmillennialist, so I think this all matters immensely, and that faithfulness will produce fruit generationally. Therefore, I am called to build upon the foundation my parents gave me (to whom much is given, much is required), and I am called to give my children more (not the same thing) than I received (just as my parents gave me more than they received). And, though I do not believe homeschooling is The One Biblical Way, I do believe Deuteronomy 6:4-9 & Ephesians 6:4, rightly translated & understood, do command and require God’s children to receive a thorough, all-encompassing Christian education. I also believe my children are God’s, not mine, and I am to steward and invest [in] them and return them to God for His kingdom. God has called them His own, and they are holy seed to Him. My job isn’t to convert them, but to raise them to be faithful to and to mature in the covenant they are already a part of.
So, there’s a summary of where I’m coming from.
And, now, a little of where I’m going. Currently on my education shelf, I have several titles I am excited about reading soon:
The Educated Imagination, Northrop Frye Poetic Knowledge
, James Taylor Rallying The Really Human Things
, Vigen Guroian
I also have three I’m curious about, but will likely go back through the paperbackswap system when I’m finished, unless they thoroughly surprise me:
Home-Style Teaching, Raymond Moore When You Rise Up
, R.C. Sproul Jr. A Biblical Home Education
, Ruth Beechick
Obviously, I am a reader. A house of books and of reading and a life made of library trips was a gift my father gave me. So, also, I hope it is obvious that if you — whoever you are — see a glaring omission in any of these book lists that I simply must read, you simply must tell me. :)
I’ll be curious to see what you think of When You Rise Up. That was the very first book on homeschooling we read, so it will always be dear to my heart. I remember even then questioning a few things, but in general it gave me the desire to see my children educated Christianly, and it was the first time I had ever read anyone trying to integrate their faith with education, so I appreciated it.
You will find, however, that he is of the homeschool ONLY camp, if I remember correctly. Just skip that part if you find it too unbearable. :)
I loved reading your booklist. That Vigen Guroian title has been on my list for years. But I have so many books on my shelf right now that it is just as well I don’t own it!
It is no wonder we are so like-minded, given the commonalities in our reading! Is it just me or could our biographies just be a really long bibliography? :)
I love Wisdom & Eloquence and would call it essential if I could find my copy … I took it on vacation last year and lost it :(
One book(let) that I found surprisingly helpful is Dr. Perrin’s “An Introduction to Classical Education.” It merges the best of the “Ages & Stages” and “Disciplines” in a short, helpful discussion of Classical Education. And it is cheap!
I didn’t find When You Rise Up to be anything new or particularly helpful.
Everyone seems to like LCC better than I do. I wasn’t impressed that there were only one or two books quoted in his history/theory section – that didn’t seem very convincing to me; that there were major revisions between the editions; and because I didn’t find the philosophy section convincing, the un-provenness of the method is a complete turn-off. Plus, he’s no longer homeschooling his own daughter. On the up side, he did provide some good book recommendations :)
I didn’t know of Wes Calihan’s book, so it is now on my Amazon wish list … I do have Norms & Nobility, Poetic Knowledge, and Climbing Parnassus on my shelves waiting to be read. Oh, and all the Charlotte Mason series. And some other books. I should read them instead of the internets LOL
Brandy,
I was sure you’d give me more book titles. Have you read Poetic Knowledge?
I know RC Jr. is homeschool-only and not particularly sold on the classical stuff (RC helped start a classical school). So, I mostly just wanted to read it out of curiosity if he’s going for a “Hebraic” education.
Dawn,
I wanted my bolded titles to be few, and I did go back and forth between bolding Wisdom & Eloquence & LCC. I haven’t been able to identify what it is about W&E that leaves me cold. It’s something in the tone. They seem to focus on education bringing political and societal change, and I prefer talk of Church and culture. Activism is not my thing whatsoever. I do have the 2nd edition of LCC, and it looked to me like it’s unfortunate they went to press with the 1st. What I appreciated in LCC was the Multa Non Multum — keeping things simple, and he gave you a practical picture in the end of how to do it.
Oh, yes, I’ve seen Perrin’s book before, but because it called it an introduction, I didn’t think it’d add much to my collection. However, I probably will go for their Latin program, and so if I place an order anyway, why not add a $3 book? :)
I go back and forth on whether or when I should read Charlotte Mason’s series. I am definitely through with other people’s interpretations, because so many pick up on the Victorian aspect, and anything that smacks of Victorianism, sentimentality, and romanticism (cough like the illustrations in TTT) drives me insane. I am Jane Austin’s Eleanor without the sympathy for Maryanne. :) I started the first book, but the fact that there are six is daunting. And, they are free online. So, should I print them? But $30 isn’t bad for 6 books, either. One can’t write in the margins of the computer screen, so I do need a paper copy. I keep hoping I’ll happen upon a cheap used set. :)
Yes, Callihan’s (and Jones & Wilson) book is short and sweet and excellent. It was one of the first I read, and after reading it I wanted to start a school rather than homeschool. :) However, after reading more widely in education, I went back to it and actually found it refreshingly simple. Canon Press publishes it, and this weekend they’re having a $1-$5 sale, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this one goes on sale.
I do love the book talk! I thought about adding a list of books I want to acquire, which would include the CM series, Climbing Parnassus, and The Devil Knows Latin (maybe, I think our library has it, but it hasn’t made it close enough to the top of the priority list yet). I also see Augustine’s “On Christian Doctrine” quoted all the time, and I think it’s supposed to be in City of God, which has been on my to-read list for a long time.
Mystie, Yes I have read Poetic Knowledge and it is my favorite book of all time! :) Until I read another book that is better, that is.
Faithless heart.
Anyhow.
In PK (a small part of it…I am not describing the whole book here) he goes back and tries to recreate poetic (think something along the lines of intuitive) learning experiences for college kids. It is SO SAD because they didn’t get such things when it was most appropriate–like before age 9. It was nice to read it when all of my children were still young and could benefit from them at the right time in their lives.
There is a LOT in the book. I am glad that my life at the time forced me to read slowly.
So many of the books on your list are on my list, too!
Ok, PK will not be postponed, then. :)
Goodness, how do you have time to read all that?!! (I know, actually – you read it for fun, and you don’t watch TV or read so many silly novels as I do! ) I find I have a hard time reading education books. Not that they’re hard to read, just that it’s not what I want to pick up when I have a spare moment. When I’m in the grip of a good story, I’ll read it every spare moment: at breakfast and lunch, in the bathroom, during quiet time, in the evening, etc. I’ve never found bubbling desire to treat non-fiction like that. Even Table in the Mist, by Jeffrey Meyers, which I’m really loving right now, is a book I’d rather read for 15-20 minutes a day – I don’t care enough about it to read it in stolen moments. Plus, a book like that requires coherent thought, so stolen moments tend to fracture my understanding of the text. :-) Same goes for Education books. But, as Amanda suggested, I can just let you do all of the work, and they copy your curriculum… :-)
Lol, Elly! I admit I am more fond of reading non-fiction and am more and more picky about my fiction. Besides, if I get wrapped up in a novel, I am engrossed and in a different world and practically worthless even when I’m not reading and I get “foggy brain.” But if I read 20-30-60 minutes of non-fiction, then I have something to think about while washing the dishes or sweeping. :) And, of course, reading about education is easier and more satisfying than actually doing anything. :) So, can I do the reading and writing and you and Amanda can do the doing? :)
Your bookshelf looks very much like my own, Mystie! Many of those are the very books which have shaped my own thinking on classical education. If you haven’t read “Climbing Parnassus” by Tracy Lee Simmons you might enjoy it as well. Another favorite of mine about teaching in general by a great classical teacher of this century is Gilbert Highet’s “The Art of Teaching.”
I do highly, HIGHLY recommend reading Charlotte Mason’s works for yourself. At least read Volume 6. Volume 6 was written later than the others and really pulls the core ideas together, in my opinion. I do not find Mason herself overly “Victorian” or “romantic”, not nearly as much as many of her followers have made her philosophy out to be. I don’t do sentimentality well either, even the Clarkson’s book was a bit much for me, and I love Mason’s straightforward tone.
I’m enjoying this series of posts! I’m in the same boat that you’re in…when I tell people I’m educating my children classically, they tend to only be familiar with WTM/Veritas/Classical Conversations model of ages and stages. If I mention Charlotte Mason, they often have the idea that I’m more of an unschooler. I’m “some sort of classical” and that’s okay with me. I find that people mostly just want to know what curriculum I use, rather than hear about my underlying philosophy.
Jami (followed you over from Cindy’s blog)
I thought of a couple other titles you might be interested in reading. “Angels in the Architecture” by Douglas Wilson and Doug Jones, while not specifically about education, does look at the medieval view of the world and classical education was in it’s most glorious day in the high middle ages (if you ask me). “Teaching Redemptively” by Donavan Graham (professor of education at Covenant College). “Tending the Heart of Virtue” by Vigen Gurioan is a must read. And for a long look at classical education through history, “The Great Tradition” by Richard Gamble.
:-)
Jami
Jami, welcome! Thank you for the book suggestions! I do love Angels in the Architecture. And paperbackswap.com had The Art of Teaching available to order! I don’t think any book I’ve wanted has ever just been sitting there “in stock.”
I agree on Clarkson’s book; I didn’t think I’d like it when I first browsed through it, but every time I do grab it, I’m pleasantly surprised by the content despite the “cheesy” aspect. :) It’s my practical book on a shelf of educational philosophy. :)
Yes, I’m with Elly. I’d much rather pick up an entertaining story than a book about education. Reading about education is easier than doing anything about it, so if I don’t even care to read about it, where will that leave me when the time for doing comes around? However, I do think that a good story can be beneficial in shaping how one thinks about life. I will definitely be refering back to your list someday! I wanted to say that Exodus has a couple sets of Charlotte Mason’s books used. I don’t know how cheap you are looking for, but I thought I’d let you know.
Yes, I’m going to buy one of those sets. :)