Who is she?

Charlotte Mason

(1842-1923)

     She was a British educator who spent her life working hard to improve childrens' education. Charlotte was an only child and lost both her parents by the age of 17.  She then enrolled in the Home and Colonial Society for the training of teachers and earned a First Class Certificate. She taught for more than ten years at Davison School in Worthing, England. During this time she began to develop her vision for "a liberal education for all." You see in the 1800s in England children were taught by their class. The poor were taught a trade and the fine arts and literature were for the upper class. When we say 'liberal" we refer it to that time because she developed an education for all children, regardless of social class.

     Mason was soon invited to teach and lecture at Bishop Otter Teacher Training College in Chichester, England, where she stayed for more than five years. Her experiences there convinced her that parents would be greatly helped if they understood some basic principles about bringing up children. So she gave a series of lectures that were later published Home Education which was highly accepted. From this, the Parents' Educational Union was formed and quickly expanded. A periodical was made, the "Parent's Review", to help keep members in touch.

     In 1891 Charlotte moved to Ambelside, England and formed the House of Education. This was a place for governesses, and other people working with young children, to come to be trained in teaching children. By 1892 the Parents’ Education Union had added the word “National” to its title, and a Parents’ Review School had been formed (later to beknown as the Parents’ Union School), at which the children followed Miss Mason’s educational philosophy and methods. By 1892, the Parents' Education Union had added the word "National" to its title, and a Parents' Review School had been formed (later to be known as the Parents' Union School), at which the children followed Mason's educational philosophy and methods.

     In the years to follow Charlotte wrote many more books developing and explaining her theories of education:  Parents and Children, School Education, Ourselves, Formation of Character, and A Philosophy of Education.  Many more schools adopted Charlotte's philosophy and methods.  Ambleside became a teacher training college to supply all the Parents’ Union Schools that were springing up.  Charlotte spent her final years overseeing this network of schools devoted to “a liberal education for all.”

What were her ideas?

 I'll give you a hint....