As many people begin to research educational styles, they often end up attracted to the Classical and Charlotte Mason methods. But, which is better? Both encourage high standards of academic excellence. Both push students to engage with and admire the classics. Both have an emphasis on forming good character in students. But, what are the differences? Let’s compare Classical vs Charlotte Mason education now.

(If you haven’t taken the Homeschool Style Quiz, make sure you check it out here).

Similarities: Classical vs Charlotte Mason Education

Perhaps the reason Classical and Charlotte Mason education are so similar is because Charlotte Mason started her school career as a Classically trained educator. While Mason valued many things about Classical education, she felt the approach could be too harsh and create too much boredom in students. She felt a gentler approach was needed. Hence, she discarded some elements of the classical approach and kept. She then created her own Charlotte Mason educational style.

Below we’ll discuss some of these similarities between classical vs Charlotte Mason education.

(If you want to watch a quick video on both methods, here they are: Classical video; Charlotte Mason video.

Memorization is Valued

It doesn’t sound exciting, but classical educators realized memorization can be exciting for children. But, this is only if you get students memorizing facts at the right ages. That is, if children memorize in their elementary years (classical educators call this the poll-parrot stage), they love it. However, if you insist on them memorizing too much during their middle or high school years, they’ll hate the task.

Both Charlotte Mason and classical educators value memorization. This is useful for learning famous passages, useful quotes, and bible verses. Both encourage memorization as they see this will stand them in good stead for things they’ll learn in middle and high school years.

Great Literature is Important

Both classical and Charlotte Mason methods encourage students to read widely. Many of life’s lessons should be learned out of the pages of a book. And the best lessons are learned from the best books (the classics). Mason went a step further and encouraged parents to find ‘living books‘. These are narrative books that engross students while teaching valuable moral, historical, or other educational lessons. (An example of a living book would be Aesop’s Fables.)

Parent-Led Learning

Both methods encourage students to learn a set curriculum of useful subjects such as grammar, history, and mathematics.

This might be different from an unschooling family where studies are child-led.

In a Charlotte Mason or Classical education, students are directed to learn challenging texts they might not choose if learning were child-led.

However, Mason encouraged children to learn for themselves in some areas, as we’ll see below.

Perfection Encouraged

Classical and Charlotte Mason education always encourages students to produce work that is of the highest standard. Sloppy writing is stamped out and replaced with elegant strokes. Spelling mistakes are worked on until students are perfect spellers. Pronunciation is practised until there is perfect diction.

Differences: Classical vs Charlotte Mason Education

Charlotte Mason kept some elements of a classical education when she created her new homeschooling approach. But, she also discarded elements. This left many differences between the styles.

Below we’ll discuss some of these differences between classical and Charlotte Mason education.

Charlotte Mason is More ‘Gentle’

Classical education gives children a curriculum they learn without much deviation. This is irrespective of personal differences between students. Mason gave her pupils a curriculum, but lessons were much shorter and parents taught lessons with the specific child in mind. Education was seen as a way of life by Mason.

Mason also didn’t want students struggling through dry textbooks to learn a lesson. Instead, she encouraged a love of living books, which were fun alternatives to the dry textbooks that were used for many years.

Also, instead of children sitting stressful exams, educators had children tell them what they had learned in the lesson.

Classical Education Gives Children an Excellent Grasp of Languages

It may seem strange to teach children Latin (after all, it’s supposed to be a dead language!), but there is a good reason every child learned it back in Charles Dickens time.

Contrary to popular thought, Latin is not really dead. Instead, it lives on in all the romantic languages, and if you know Latin, you know at least 50% of English and the other romance languages.

Latin gives students an incredible grasp on English too, as students don’t need to know every new word but recognize the Latin roots and figure it out quickly. Classical educators realize this and give children a good foundation in Latin in elementary and middle school years.

Classical Education is Made for Classrooms

When there’s a ratio of thirty children to one teacher, exams have to be sit-down. It’s difficult for teachers to test children orally (with narration – see video below). This is because oral testing is too time-consuming in a classroom.

Classical education is made for a classroom situation; Charlotte Mason is more personal and is made for much lower student: teacher ratios. The latter would be almost impossible to do properly in a large classroom (or if it were, I believe it would be a butchered version).

Mason Valued Art and Music More

Although both methods value art and music, Mason seems to promote these elements slightly more than classical educators.

Classical Education Starts Earlier

Classical education starts children learning around ages 5. The thought behind this is that parents shouldn’t waste the earliest years.

Charlotte Mason encouraged parents to wait until at least age 6, fearing children might get burned out if they start too early.

Debate is Highly Valued in Classical Education

One of the biggest differences between classical vs Charlotte Mason education is that argumentation and debate are considered arts which should be highly developed.

While the first stage of classical education encourages fact learning, the second stage is largely devoted to learning the art of logic and argumentation. The third stage of education teaches children how to debate in a gracious and winning manner.

Debate and logic are less practised in a Charlotte Mason education.

Retelling Material Encouraged in Charlotte Mason Education

Classical Education involves parents in explaining subjects more. Charlotte Mason homeschooling leans heavily on verbal narration (the child retelling the summary of a story after they’ve heard it, to make sure they’ve been listening).

Nature Engagement

Perhaps the biggest difference between classical and Charlotte Mason education has to do with nature engagement.

Classical education doesn’t encourage much engagement with nature. In contrast, Mason believed nature is a great teacher. She thought children should spend plenty of time in the yard, on field trips, or picnics. These opportunities allow students to notebook and take down their observations. They can learn the names of trees, insects, bushes, and animals. They can sketch these objects and learn about the seasons.

Mason also believed that getting children outside was good for their muscular development and mental health. A field trip could be a lovely, educational, stress-free day for the whole family.

Conclusion

Classical vs Charlotte Mason education. Which shall it be? After writing and researching both methods, I’m still as undecided as before. In classical education, I’m a fan of debating, logic, and the great basis for the English language this type of education gives children. On the other hand, I like the thought of living books instead of dry textbooks, nature engagement and narration. What about you? Which do you prefer and why? Comment in the section below the video.