Let’s get into the knitty-gritty of how things get done in a CM education. I would like to start by outlining what a living book is, and how it gets used in our education.
In outlining the how to develop a curriculum for students, Miss Mason said, in her book – Towards a Philosophy of Education, the following:
“In devising a syllabus for a normal child, of whatever social class, three points must be considered:––
(a) He requires much knowledge, for the mind needs sufficient food as much as does the body.
(b) The knowledge should be various, for sameness in mental diet does not create appetite (i.e., curiosity).
(c) Knowledge should be communicated in well-chosen language because his attention responds naturally to what is conveyed in literary form.”
A ‘living book’, according to Miss Mason, was one that “warm(s) the imagination, communicates directly from the mind of the author to that of the reader (student), and nurtures thinking. In other words – written generally by one author who is passionate enough about something that he or she has put the time, energy, brainpower, blood, sweat, and tears into writing a book about it! When an author writes a book, you are told about all the happenings in story form – not just dry, dull, bare facts.
You learn what the men under George Washington thought of him – that they marched through ice and snow in bare and bleeding feet to follow him wherever he lead. You learn about where Stonewall Jackson got the courage to lead men in battle – fearlessly. You get an ‘insider’s’ look at what goes on in the hearts and minds of great people in history as they struggled through very difficult times. You see things from their perspective – they didn’t always know that what they were doing was going to change the way people lived, thought, what they learned, etc. They just knew they were doing what they were made to do! (Can you tell – I LOVE living books!!?)
OK, I’ve gone on long enough for now. Next time, I’ll share what to DO with a living book to give your child the best education anyone could ask for – and it’s right at your fingertips!
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