For the Children's Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School
by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay
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Every parent and teacher wants to give his or her children the best education possible. They hope that the teaching they provide is a joyful adventure, a celebration of life, and preparation for living. But sadly, most education today falls short of this goal. For the Children's Sake imagines what education can be based on a Christian understanding of the meaning of life and what it means to be human-a child, a parent, a teacher. The central ideas have been proven over many years and in show more almost every kind of educational situation, including ideas that author Susan Schaeffer Macaulay and her husband, Ranald, have implemented in their own family and school experience. Includes a foreword by daughter and educator Fiona Fletcher. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
This book is based on Charlotte Mason's writing, talking about home education. There's lots of common sense in this book, and some ideas which surprisingly overlap with the modern 'taking children seriously' non-coercive style of home education that's so popular in the UK. However as this book is written from a Christian perspective, there's some emphasis on discipline (in the gentlest of senses) alongside questions about creativity and mutual respect.
I initially read this as a resource about educational philosophy when I had decided to home school my oldest child through middle school. The reality is that, although this book is used to explain the Charlotte Mason ideology, it is so much more than an education book. The author talks about creating a stable environment for our children that fosters learning in a natural, creative way, nurturing a richness and quality of life that will last.
Excellent summary of Charlotte Mason's educational ideas and practices. MacAulay does a wonderful job of pulling out the most relevant Mason quotes and also has a lot of very thought-provoking words of her own.
A very interesting book indeed. A great read for those that are looking into using a Charlotte Mason method of education for their children.
I will admit some spots were a bit hard to read. I wasn't excatly sure what she was talking about once or twice, but overall it was an extremely informative book. I still need to do some more CM reading to really get it, and probably I need to put it into practice for a while and it will really start to make sense! LOL!
I will admit some spots were a bit hard to read. I wasn't excatly sure what she was talking about once or twice, but overall it was an extremely informative book. I still need to do some more CM reading to really get it, and probably I need to put it into practice for a while and it will really start to make sense! LOL!
Good, good, good. An interesting mix of McCauley’s own story and Charlotte Mason’s educational principles.
I used this book as a reference as a Christian school teacher. Susan Schaeffer Macaulay has good insights that I was able to transfer to the classroom.
This is a good place to begin to learn how important literature is in education AND, as importantly, life.
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Susan Macaulay is a writer and educator whose interest lies with teaching children from a Christian perspective. Macaulay has written "For the Children's Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School," "How to Be Your Own Selfish Pig," a book that addresses questions about the various religions of the world, and "Books Children Love: A Guide show more to the Best Children's Literature." (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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