PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION
City School embraces Charlotte Mason’s philosophy of education, the aim of which is to train and educate the whole child – mind, body, and spirit. Our approach begins from a foundation of truth – that all children are created in the image of God and therefore are eager to learn about Him and His creation. We aim to create a beautiful and orderly environment and develop character through habit-building. Additionally, we challenge our students with a rich, living curriculum that leads them outward toward the world. Each of these principles is distinct but overlaps with the others, and exercised in unison they are mutually reinforcing.
Beautiful and Orderly Environment
Every place has an atmosphere - not only in its physical environment but in how people are treated and how we feel when we are there. At City School we create a beautiful and orderly environment, in both our facilities and behavior. It is a safe and inspiring space where students explore and learn.
Character Development through Habits
“Every day, every hour, [we] are either passively or actively forming habits in [our] children upon which, more than upon anything else, future character and conduct depend.” We train our students in habits that form the foundational skills for life-long learning, emphasizing attention, personal responsibility, and respect for others.
A Curriculum to “Lead Out”
The word educate means “to lead out” and we aim to turn students outward toward the world by engaging them with big ideas that highlight connections across disciplines. Practically, we build concepts through short & digestible lessons, hold students accountable for their learning through frequent recall, read “living books,” and instruct students in a broad selection of the arts.
"We are very tenacious of the dignity and individuality of our children."
- Charlotte Mason
Charlotte Mason (1842–1923) was a British educator who invested her life in improving the quality of children’s education. During her early years as a teacher, she began to develop her vision of “a liberal education for all.” The word “liberal,” as it related to education in Mason’s time, implied a broad curriculum for all children, regardless of social class. Her philosophy begins from a Biblical worldview that children are people - not vessels to fill - and we ought to educate them as whole persons: mind, body, and spirit. Ms. Mason believed that to become a master the student should incorporate techniques of the masters into his/her own practice. (As such, students in every grade at City School study great works by master artists, poets, & composers.)
Charlotte Mason Resources:
For the Children’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay
When Children Love to Learn by Elaine Cooper