Preparation for the Next Class
CHARLOTTE MASON VOLUME 5 : Formation Of Character: CHAPTER 2, PART 4
There is so much to do, teach and tackle each day. This constant busyness often leads us to prioritise certain subjects over others. We dedicate less time to topics that may seem less immediately practical, focusing instead on what is necessary to ensure our children pass their next test or exam.
Regrettably, this approach often results in a narrow education. We find ourselves trapped in a cycle of teaching to meet immediate academic requirements rather than fostering lifelong learning. Our children miss out on the opportunity to engage deeply with the material, to question and debate the concepts they encounter, and to reflect on their significance beyond the confines of an exam.
While education should aim to equip children with the knowledge and skills they need for life, its true purpose extends beyond that. Education should be a transformative process, guiding towards becoming well-rounded individuals. We aren’t just filling their heads with the necessary knowledge, we are helping them to become problem solvers.
The conversations and the leading questions following a thought-provoking book help our children not to be stubbornly resistant to new perspectives and prevent them from passively accepting everything they hear.
This way, they’ll learn to discern the truth always.