The Great Divide: Classical Education vs. Charlotte Mason Homeschooling
Choosing a homeschool philosophy can feel like navigating a maze of scholarly terms and passionate advocates. Two of the most respected and widely adopted methods are Classical Education and the Charlotte Mason (CM) Method. While both share roots in the pursuit of wisdom, virtue, and a broad, rich curriculum, their foundational approaches—particularly regarding how a child learns—create distinct experiences. Understanding these differences is key for parents seeking the best fit for their family.
Focus of the Curriculum: Tools vs. Ideas
The primary point of divergence lies in their method of knowledge acquisition, especially in the younger years:
- Classical Education (The Trivium): The modern Classical method is famous for its Trivium, dividing learning into three stages based on developmental readiness: Grammar (K-4, memorization of facts), Logic (5-8, critical reasoning), and Rhetoric (9-12, articulate expression). The focus in the Grammar stage is on providing a vast storehouse of facts—the