Consider This…A Book Review

Back in June of this year I was invited to read Karen Glass’ new book ‘Consider This: Charlotte Mason and the Classical Tradition.’ I read it and was filled with joy through what I found in those pages.

I have put off writing this review mostly because her book was so life giving to me, I want this review to really reflect how incredible her book truly is, and I doubt my ability to do that. Finally, I had to, as my friend Mystie says,  just smile and start. So here we are.

In the first chapter of Karen’s book ‘Holding Hands with the Past’ she quotes Thomas Godolphin Rooper, from his work “Education Studies and Addresses.”

Rooper says “Sound principles that are old may easily be laid on the shelf and forgotten, unless in each successive generation a few industrious people can be found who will take the trouble to draw them forth from the store houses.”

The classical tradition involves those sound principles, Karen Glass is one of those industrious people, and her book ‘Consider This’ is one of the fruits of her taking the trouble to draw this tradition forth from the store houses.

[box] “Sound principles that are old may easily be laid on the shelf and forgotten, unless in each successive generation a few industrious people can be found who will take the trouble to draw them forth from the store houses.” -Rooper

The classical tradition involves those sound principles, Karen Glass is one of those industrious people, and her book ‘Consider This’ is one of the fruits of her taking the trouble to draw this tradition forth from the store houses. [/box]

As I think about those who would be blessed by reading this book I think of three groups of people.  Those who name their philosophy of education a Charlotte Mason education, those who name their philosophy of education a Christian Classical education, and those who are generally interested in education.

First, for those who name their philosophy of education a Charlotte Mason education, this book is for you. I think one of the reasons many of us are drawn to Charlotte Mason, her principles, and her methods is because they are so life giving. Even if many times we really don’t have full understanding what those principles mean, they have resonated with us and we know we want more. ‘Consider This’ is that more. Karen helped me to really grasp several of Charlotte Mason’s principles through the lens of today. I needed that. It helped me see how this method of educating is for today, tomorrow, and forever.

“If we read the works of educators who lived long ago, as well as those who followed later and purposefully tried to learn from them, a picture will emerge.” -Karen Glass, ‘Consider This‘, Introduction

One of the expressions of that picture is a Charlotte Mason Education and, throughout her book, Karen reveals this to us.

Second, those who name their philosophy of education a Christian classical education, this book is for you. ‘Consider This’ was such a relief to me. One of the biggest frustrations I have encountered in pursuit of the this tradition is how many tensions seem to be unresolvable on this side of eternity. Karen resolved many of those tensions for me. It was like a healing balm on tattered nerves that were trying a bit too hard. I almost felt as though I could shut down this blog and have us all read her book for the rest of our lives. It really helped me that much. Of course, I will not do that, but we will be reading Karen’s book in the Expanding Wisdom Community as soon as we finish Abolition of Man.

“So we know from the start that we don’t want to merely “do what they did” {the ‘classical’ educators of the past}, and those of us interested in classical education need some principles or guidelines to make “classical education” an education method that will serve for us in the twenty-first century. To do that, knowing what they did is not enough. If we are going to make any alterations to the “curriculum” as they followed it, we must understand what principles were behind their teachings. Why were they doing what they were doing? It is only to the extent that we understand that, and remain faithful to those principles, that we can develop a legitimate contemporary understanding of “classical” education that will both give us that greatness of mind—magnanimity—that is the hallmark of classical education, and also equip us not merely adequately but well for the world that we live in.” – Karen Glass, ‘Consider This‘, The Introduction

Thirdly, those who are generally interested in education, this book is for you. Every parent and educator wants the absolute best for their students. I think we each experience groanings as we try to do our best, name problems, and find solutions to the educational and parental tensions in life.  This book is a friend to that end. It has helped me to really marinate in what education is, what it has become, and what it ought to be. More than I have before, I have come face to face with the reality that my agenda and preferences for what education should look like do not matter so much. Rather, the truth of what our children and students need ought to reign in my heart. I want to be brave enough to ask the question “Is what I’m doing best for my students, the teacher, and the kingdom of God?” Then, I want to be brave enough to throw what I am doing out the window if it is not best. There can be no glory in persisting in lies about reality, people, and education. I pray we all would be brave enough in this regard.

“You dear people are torch-bearers, bearing the light. It is not because we are cleverer, not because we know more, but because it has been our good fortunate that a philosophy of education has come our way, our vocation has led us. We have received a call and are working on principles not worked on before. There is no cause for vanity on our part. If you picked up a bracelet lying by the way it would be no credit to you. It is precisely the case with us. These principles are picked up, found, a find which is no one’s property; they belong to all show have wit enough to take them.” –Charlotte Mason, L’Umile Pianta, June 1922 (quoted in ‘Consider This’ at the end of Rock Breaks Scissors.)

Friend, whether you are a torch-bearer in the home educating your own children, teaching at a homeschool co-op, or in a school, this book can help us name, navigate, and grasp the important principles governing real education.

I urge you to read this book. This book will be foundational in helping three groups of people–who have until now seemed to be distinct from each other–come together in a common tradition that resonates in the hearts of everyone of us. Think of the power in that. Will you join me?

You can purchase your own copy of ‘Consider This: Charlotte Mason and the Classical Tradition’ in Paperback form or as Kindle book by clicking here or on the book below. You can also visit Karen’s website, KarenGlass.net, where you will find other reviews, a study guide (which is awesome), and more information about her and her book.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

“Karen Glass is part of the Advisory of Ambleside Online. She has four children, ages 10 to 24, who have been homeschooled using Charlotte Mason’s methods from beginning to end. She has been studying and writing about Charlotte Mason and Classical Education for twenty years, and has written Consider This to share the most important things she has discovered about the connection between them.”

Expanding wisdom, extending grace,

Jen