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20

HOMESCHOOLIOWA.ORG

O

nce upon a time, thirty-two years ago to be exact, a

young mother and father were searching for a kin-

dergarten for their darling first born, a son. This son

had just turned five years of age, and, as the culture of the day

declared, was to begin his formal education in three

months. Fruitless and frustrating was the search, and the

parents determined that their son was young enough

to stay home one more year. Happy was the child, for

he knew nothing of the need for school, and life continued as he

had always known it.

 But the mother gave deep thought and prayer to the idea of

school and began to teach her little son, always in the form of

games and play, the skills he would need to build a strong foun-

dation for his academic career. They experienced such delightful

days, full of wonder and very active, that the parents began to

entertain the idea of continuing their son’s formal education at

home. A bit frightened at the awesomeness of the responsibility,

the mother began to search for the resources she would need to

accomplish such a task.

 A small book was discovered at a local bookstore. The moth-

er quickly made her purchase and hurried home to absorb the

knowledge it contained. The book was

For the Children’s Sake

by

Susan Schaeffer Macaulay. The mother knew that Mrs. Macaulay

was the daughter of Dr. Francis and Edith Schaeffer. The Schaef-

fers had written many books, and through those writings had

mentored the young parents of whom I speak. So it seemed

natural to select a book written by their daughter.

 As she read, the spirit of the mother was stirred with-

in her, and she knew this little book contained the

guidance they needed. But where could she find the knowledge

to help her apply the philosophy of education about which she

was learning? The works of Charlotte Mason, of whom the book

referred, were no longer in print.

 “I’ll do the best I can with the knowledge I have learned,” the

mother determined. She and her son, as well as his little sister,

spent many happy days playing in the sun, discovering God’s

creation, and reading beautiful books together.

 The time came, all too soon, for the mother to teach her young

son how to read. Having never taught a child to read, she timidly

chose a program highly recommended by a friend. This program

demanded much study and preparation by the mother, and the

golden hours of reading, playing, and discovering in nature were

shortened accordingly. But the child learned to read and a whole

new world was opened to him.

 As the child grew and more academic work was required, the

mother, feeling unsure of her way, began to follow the advice of

her friends, straying from the philosophy that had so stirred her

heart those few years before. Years progressed, and the young

family was blessed with more babies. The mother, conscientious

about her work, became overwhelmed with the responsibilities

of home, family, and the education of her children. Her efforts

to provide curriculum adequate for her children’s needs became

insufficient in her eyes, but she had neither the time nor the en-

ergy to study and research as she desired. She purchased cur-

riculum that made important decisions for her. And all the family

struggled. The love of learning, the life in her children’s educa-

tion, faded, and she felt that she had failed. Sadly, she endeav-

ored to nurture any tiny flicker of life that might dimly appear

during her children’s lessons. Living books were her only source

of comfort in their school work, and her children still delighted

in listening as she read to them.

A LOVE OF

LEARNING

By Susan Chrisman