For the Children's Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay

Welcome back to Blogging through the Alphabet. Today we are looking at the letter F.  My co-host Desiree is sharing F is for Farm in her Lego ABC series.

For the Children's Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay (first published in 1984) is the very first book I was given to read about home education. 

This book was paradign shifting for me.  Homeschooling was the furtherest thing from my mind.  I had no idea that home education even existed until I met someone who was homeschooling in 1997 in New Zealand when enquiring which preschool to send my children to. 

Susan challenged some of the fundamental beliefs I had and the surprising thing is I was not even aware I had them until I read the book. I was introduced to Charlotte Mason in this book and really loved the idea of twaddle free books. 

The idea of real books as a basis of education really appealed and still appeals to me today, and thus began my search for a curriculum that contained 'living' books.  Twaddle Free Books  that would touch our lives for years to come, books that were not dead, books that were real and did not leave us treading water going nowhere.

Education a Word Study

In 1883 according to Websters dictionary - noun [Latin educatio.] The bringing up, as of a child, instruction; formation of manners. education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations. To give children a good education in manners, arts and science, is important; to give them a religious education is indispensable; and an immense responsibility rests on parents and guardians who neglect these duties.  

138 years later education is defined as -

• The act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgement and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life.
• the act or process of imparting or acquiring particular knowledge or skills for a profession. 
• A degree, level or kind of schooling - Dictionary.com
  
• discipline that is concerned with methods of teaching and learning in schools or school-like environments  - Britanica
  
• the process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university.
the process of facilitating learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, morals, beliefs, and habits. Educational methods include teaching, training, storytelling, discussion and directed research.- Wikipedia

• the process of teaching or learning, especially in a school or college or the knoweldge you get from this. - Cabridge Dictionary
• the action or process of educating or being educated.
• the knowledge and developemnt resulting from the process of being educated. - Merriam Webster. 
  

 As home educating parents it is of paramount importance that we understand what an education actually is in order to fully embrace the educational life. As we can see from Websters dictionary it's so much deeper and fuller than simply subjects and classifications.  It encompasses all of life.

For the Children's Sake is a great read for every parent who wants to give their children the best education possible. 

Although For the Children's Sake was published nearly forty years ago the ideas within it's pages are as relevant today as they were then.  You will be introduced to one of the greatest education giants of history Charlotte Mason. Susan expounds upon her ideals and shows you the parent what a pivotal role you play with every choice you make along your journey.

It's the type of book one reads to enlarge upon oneself.  It feeds your soul and stretches you to grow in ways you could not even begin to fathom. It encourages and expands the mind and soul. It is an inspirational call to give ourselves and our children the best education possible and extend learning into every single facet of life possible.

Buy the book here:

• Book Depository
• Simply Charlotte Mason
• Amazon
• Booktopia
• AbeBooks
• ChristianBook
  

 What books would you place on your must read pile as a homeschooling parent?

Blessings

Chareen

Find the other ABC posts in this series here:

1. A is for Art Lessons at Home
2. B is for Books Where do You Purchase Yours? 
3. Charlotte Mason a Round Up of Posts 
4. Delight Directed Education
5. Encouragement for Weary Homeschooling Mothers
6. For the Children's Sake 
   

Featured from Week 4 all things 'E'

• E is for Easy over at Our Homeschool Notebook
• E is for Elmira Prison over at A Mom's Quest to Teach.
  
• Homeschooling Tips from A to Z: the Letter E over at Homeschooling Highway 
• Elgar ~ Composer ABCsby Lori at At Home: Where Life Happens.
• Discovering the E Rabbits of the World by Annette over at At Home Pets. 
• E is for Edgewalk and Errors in Judgement by Annette over at A Net in Time.
  

 This week  over at Our Homeschool Notebook the topic is F is for Farm.  

Please link up your posts starting with the letter F for this weeks ABC Blogging. This is a Blog Hop!