Consider This | Karen Glass

Consider This: Charlotte Mason and the Classical Tradition

Extended Synopsis

The educators of ancient Greece and Rome gave the world a vision of what education should be. Medieval and Renaissance teachers valued their insights and lofty goals, and Christian educators such as Augustine, Erasmus, Milton, and Comenius drew from the teaching of Plato, Aristotle, and Quintilian truths they found universal and potent. In Consider This: Charlotte Mason and the Classical Tradition, Karen Glass demonstrates how Charlotte Mason purposefully developed her own philosophy of education directly from the riches of this past. Mason and the other founding members of the Parents' National Educational Union in England were profoundly inspired by the classical educators of history, setting out to achieve their vision within modern education.

They succeeded in this endeavor. Thanks to Mason's clear development of practical methods to realize these classical ideals, educators today can actively partake in the classical tradition. Consider This argues that classical education is an education of the heart and conscience as much as it is an education of the mind. By exploring the classical emphasis on the formation of character, Glass bridges the gap between Charlotte Mason's methodology and the enduring insights of historical thinkers.

Ultimately, this is not a traditional "how-to" book about educational mechanics, but rather a profound "why-to" book. It is designed to bring clarity, context, and philosophical grounding to the ideas many educators already hold about teaching, learning, and the ultimate purpose of education.

Reader Targeting

• Homeschooling parents seeking to understand the philosophical foundations of the Charlotte Mason method and Classical Education.
• Educators and teachers interested in character formation and integrating historical educational ideals into modern practice.
• Advocates of classical schooling who want to explore the bridge between traditional methods and Charlotte Mason's unique approach.

Accolades & Awards

• "The classical tradition as it informs teaching is good not because it is old or 'classical,' but because it works; and what works, whether old or new, is best. That's the Mason message admirably conveyed by [Karen] Glass." — David V. Hicks
• "I thought that my fire for heart education could not be further stoked; I was mistaken. Karen Glass has here laid out the thrilling joy of education, for both the teacher and the taught." — Michelle Miller, author of the TruthQuest History series
• "From the very beginning I couldn't put it down! What a gem!" — Sonya Shafer of Simply Charlotte Mason
• "Karen says everything I would have loved to say about education in a clear, understandable, and easy to read style. It is the missing link between what we call Classical Education and the Charlotte Mason approach." — Cindy Rollins, contributor at The CiRCE Institute

Author Biography

Karen Glass is a highly respected educator, author, and thought leader in the homeschooling community, specifically focusing on the intersection of Classical Education and the philosophy of Charlotte Mason. Through her rigorous study of historical teaching methods, she helps modern educators cultivate character, conscience, and a lifelong love of learning in their students.

Bust-Down Books: Armed With Education