and lastly, I have been feeling thankful for this perspective on education that we are pursuing. Instead of assuming we as parents and teachers already know our children completely, and instead of starting with a book or method of teaching and saying, 'How does this fit my child?' the Charlotte Mason perspective starts with the child.
It begins with taking a long hard look into who a child really is as one created in the image of God. It asks tough questions like, 'How is my child's brain created to recieve and retain knowledge and ideas?' and 'What are a child's true needs, and how do we efficiently meet them?"
It is deeply rooted in Biblical truth and in reliance on the Holy Spirit, which, I believe, is why people will reread her 6 volumes (of tough-to-understand-old-english-narrative) several times. The Holy Spirit breathes life into this education. That's why we can say education is a life, and we keep coming back to learn more and grow deeper.
Lest I be misread here, Charlotte Mason is not God, nor is she divine in any way. To me she is a vessel used by God (as I pray to be) to relay ideas and cause others to think deeply on The Truth. So, this thanksgiving season I am grateful for a mind blessed with great thoughts to ponder.