Formation of Character

Original Homeschooling #5

by Charlotte M. Mason

Formation of Character is the fifth volume of Charlotte Mason's Homeschooling series. The chapters stand alone and are valuable to parents of children of all ages. Part I includes case studies of children (and adults) who cured themselves of bad habits. Part II is a series of reflections on subjects including both schooling and vacations (or "stay-cations" as we now call them). Part III covers various aspects of home schooling, with a special section detailing the things that Charlotte Mason thought were important to teach to girls in particular. Part IV consists of examples of how education affected outcome of character in famous writers of her day. Charlotte Mason was a late nineteenth-century British educator whose ideas were far ahead of her time. She believed that children are born persons worthy of respect, rather than blank slates, and that it was better to feed their growing minds with living literature and vital ideas and knowledge, rather than dry facts and knowledge filtered and pre-digested by the teacher. Her method of education, still used by some private schools and many homeschooling families, is gentle and flexible, especially with younger children, and includes first-hand exposure to great and noble ideas through books in each school subject, conveying wonder and arousing curiosity, and through reflection upon great art, music, and poetry; nature observation as the primary means of early science teaching; use of manipulatives and real-life application to understand mathematical concepts and learning to reason, rather than rote memorization and working endless sums; and an emphasis on character and on cultivating and maintaining good personal habits. Schooling is teacher-directed, not child-led, but school time should be short enough to allow students free time to play and to pursue their own worthy interests such as handicrafts. Traditional Charlotte Mason schooling is firmly based on Christianity, although the method is also used successfully by s

Genres: Education, Parenting, Nonfiction, Christian, School, Homeschool

451 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1989

About the author

Charlotte Mason, a renowned British educator, lived during the turn of the 20th century. She turned the idea of education being something of utilitarian necessity into an approach based upon living ideas. She believed that education is "an atmosphere, a discipline, a life" and a "science of relations." Her methods are embraced around the world today, especially among the homeschool community.

Reviews

[Cindy Rollins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books just gets better and better as it goes along. Don't give up if you find the beginning a slog. I read it aloud for my Patreon.

[ladydusk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The Formation of Character. The case studies were of interest, a little pat now and again, but helpful in seeing how Mason thought the tools of Atmosphere, Discipline, and Life ought to be implemented.

The Parents section - including the "100 years later" was a little ... sad as we do live 100 years later and the beautiful things haven't come to fruition as Mason hoped. It was an intriguing picture into her ideas, though.

The Young Men and Maidens at home had some really intriguing ideas about how young adults can flourish with this sort of education and how to help them to transition into adulthood. Mason was actually quite - I want to say progressive without all of the baggage that comes with that term - in giving options to adult daughters. Refreshing.

The Final section, Book 4, was my favorite part, I think. I enjoyed reading about the Two Boys and how their disparate upbringings affected them, but not how we always expect. We can be surprised how God works in lives. The Goethe chapter was interesting to read about - even though I knew little about him or his works previously. I should read more. The drawing out of living ideas from literature was done in such a helpful way for many of the stories she relates, that they were worth reading.

I enjoyed the Appendix, even.

Overall, I think I went into this book thinking it was about Forming the Character of my children and I came out thinking it was about the Formation of my *own* Character and Character in general. That's better.

I understand why it's one of the last volumes read. It wasn't always an easy read, it wasn't always readily apparent where she was going or what she was saying, but I would say that it was worth persevering.

[Joshua · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are many things to like about Formation of Character. Mason has some solid contributions to educational and character driven thought. However, there are many reasons that I liked this book, but didn't like it a lot, and especially didn't love it.

Firstly, I'll say that I am a reformed Christian with presuppositions on the authority, inerrancy, and sufficiency of God's revealed word through the Bible. What I will say below in critique is informed almost completely by that:

Mason, given her background and insights into philosophical and sociological education of children has an immense treasury of insight to bring to the table, but when it comes to the formation of a child's character, seeing that Scripture (both the Old and New Testaments) is my go-to guide for how character is formed in the lives of humanity, seems to be throwing darts at a mark. Some darts nail it, while others don't even hit the target at all. I saw a great deal of mingling of modern psychology, behavioral conditioning, and even compromise on topics which I see are clearly laid out in the Bible for how to raise children. While I was hoping she would stick to the Text that she has mostly stuck with in her previous volumes, it seems that here she largely deviates from roots sown in Home Education. What most concerns me about this book was that it subtly shifts the foundational standard from the roots of the Word of God and into what society is now replete with: behaviorism, let kids be kids, and moralistic therapy.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's embarrassing that it took me so long to finish this book, and thus finally to have read all of Charlotte Mason's Home Education series. I finally bought the audiobook from Living Book Press, and that is definitely the way to go if you find yourself stuck or procrastinating like me. ;)

Formation of Character is not my favorite CM book and perhaps not one I'll read again cover to cover, but like all her books it gives much to think about and is definitely worth reading. I do wish I'd read it when my children were younger, but there are also helpful things for parents of older children as well. I didn't read all the book descriptions in the appendix in my hard copy, but I do have the Vittorino da Feltre one on my shelf to hopefully get to someday. Now back to my reread of Towards a Philosophy of Education, which is possibly my favorite of the series, followed by Ourselves and School Education. :)

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book and all the discussions on books, ones I have been writing down but the format for me was frustrating and like Lauren said, I wish there was more context for each chapter. Overall, it was, as always very helpful. Maybe next time I read it, it will be more stars.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. This volume is disjointed and feels disorienting. I really enjoyed Part 1 which were concrete examples of habit formation and training that accompanies Vol 1. I also really enjoyed Part 3, section 2 “Concerning The Young Maidens at Home” as it is the best and only advice I’ve read for young ladies who’ve graduated and still live at home. Some of the middle essays (lectures about PNEU) and the last essays (character development in various novels) were more difficult but I could always find a nugget of wisdom buried somewhere. Most of the time she’s repeating something that she has said either more concisely or more robustly in another volume.

[Paige Cuthbertson| Turning_Every_Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many wonderful and deep insights into training a child’s personality and character. There were passages where I was constantly underlining/highlighting!

But I have to admit there also some very lengthy sections that were really difficult to slog through. Especially the final 3-4 chapters in my opinion. Those especially seemed sort of random, and I had difficulty following her point. The best part of the book was the first part— much more concrete advice to be found there.

I also feel like she pins too much on habit training and not enough on the Holy Spirit. She gets so wrapped up in philosophy that, to me, it seems she misses out on the role faith plays in our parenting.

3.5 ⭐️

[Kyleigh Dunn · Rating 2 out of 5]

While it was helpful to read some examples of Ms. Mason's ideas in practice, this book was tedious and difficult for me to connect with. I continue to have issues with her ideas of virtue via habit (I believe it's a Thomist rather than Augustinian view), and this came out heavily in her discussion of Goethe and holding him up as a positive example while also admitting his rejection of Christianity. Obviously, there are unbelievers who are good people, but to discuss character as a Christian to Christians and make it all about our own habits and not the Holy Spirit is lacking quite a bit.

[Melissa Clemmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mason offers a feast of ideas, examples, and warnings about character formation. I began reading the volume more than a year ago. For me it required slow reading. I foresee myself coming back to it again and again. So much to consider and apply!
A few quotes from Part IV: “ It is Written,” Some Studies in the Evolution of Character:
“ The pains of little children are as acute as their pleasures, and, what is more, they are eternal. Experience has not begotten hope, and every grief and disappointment is final” (285).
“It is by their self-ordered activities they develop, and they require more scope for these than an orderly house affords. An attic, a garden, a yard, a field, where in to do as they will, is necessary to the free growth of children” (287).
“If we would but receive it, we are not capable of examining that which we do not know; and knowledge is the result of a slow, involuntary process, impossible to a mind in the critical attitude. Let us who teach spend time in the endeavor to lay proper and abundant nutriment before the young, rather than in leading them to criticize and examine every morsel of knowledge that comes their way. Who could live if every mouthful of bodily food were held up on a fork for critical examination before it be eaten?” (294-295)
“In fact, preoccupation with tawdry and trivial things will be avoided if children are let alone: imagination will furnish them with ample properties, delightful scenes, upon the nearest suggestion of reality” (306).
“It might be well to bring a child to face the fact of mystery when first his mind is greatly agitated by some public or private calamity. We do not know; we are not meant to know; we have our limitations. If we understood everything, there would be no room left for faith in God, because we should only believe what we could quite well see and understand. But it is just possible that the sudden loss of all these precious lives may mean that life and death are not the great and final things in the eyes of God that they are in our eyes. We are sure that people go on existing; and how they do so, we must trust to our Father, because he is our father and theirs. Such opportunities for the exercise of a strong faith should be a means of fortifying rather than enfeebling the religious life” (317).
“Your genius has an amazing and sufficiently irritating way of evading that which bothers him; and assuredly he will be thankful in after days for any such tincture of scholarship as his masters were able to get into him” (326).
“... The meaning of must can only be learned by means of a duty which it would be agreeable to shirk” (338).
“... all that the man became the child was, not only potentially but actively” (362).
“... any dunghill is high enough to crow from if we have a mind to” (367).
“... The decisions of life are not simple, and to taboo knowledge is not to secure innocence. We must remember that ignorance is not innocence, and also that ignorance is the parent of insatiable curiosity” (374).
“... The book is more terse, graphic, satisfying to the mind than the talk of any but very rare people” (394).
“... it is well we should make children perceive at a very early age that a man’s reason is the servant of his own will, and is not necessarily an independent authority within him in the service of truth” (406).
See what I mean?!

[Michelle Fournier · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to say I am happy to be done with this one. My least favorite Charlotte Mason volume and the last one to finish them all 😅. The title put me off for awhile, but I am glad I read it, and there were some real gems hidden in this one; I especially loved her thoughts on the question of educating young women and preparing them for life. In her day especially, such an important topic and she brought up some very good questions. As a mother of young teenage girls (and boys!), I appreciated her thoughts. But there were a lot of chapters I could have skipped. I am kind of glad I waited so long to pick this one up, instead rereading other volumes.
And yet, I can see myself picking this one up again and sticking to some very specific sections.
3 stars because I found it such a mixed bag—there are some very much 5 star worthy sections. Just not all of it.

[Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlotte Mason’s books are difficult to rate. Her ideas and positions have been incredibly influential in the lives of many, including my own. Her educational approach is liberating and generous. But her books are unusual - they bear the hallmarks of her time in their strange construction and lack of editorial flow. Her language is quite dense and full of references which are archaic to a modern reader. So, this book is admittedly difficult to read. But the ideas shine through and a diligent reader will be rewarded.

[María Elena Ortiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. The first part of the volume was hard for me to enjoy, but it doesn't mean it is a goog content. The victorian style of the cases was a bit too dramatic for me; but I love each counsel the families received. The second part, more philosophical and academic as usual, took some novels characters to explore how education in different circumstances is related with character.

[Katelynn]

It seems like this volume can be overlooked from what I understand. Considering it in her entire body of work however, it is a great volume. You can witness her thoughts and philosophies in the case studies. It is difficult to place ourselves (no pun intended) in the culture of the time she was writing, which may lead to some double takes.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are books I dabble in--rarely reading one volume straight through from beginning to end. I tend to check chapters off in the table of contents as I have time to read them.

This one is a thought-provoking read whether you are homeschooling your children, a classroom educator, or not! (as is true for most of her books)

What sets this book apart from her others is that much of the information is told through stories. This might be hard to dive into if you're not familiar with Victorian authors, but it's quite effective. I find this one a little more challenging to read straight through and jump around more in it than I do the others.

[Cori Thonen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish this book contained footnotes of where the different chapters are supposed to fit in Charlotte Mason’s other books. Because while it’s got great info, it reads like Mary Poppins bag. Once I found that it contains what was edited out of the rest of the series, it totally made sense.

[Stephanie Reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, the first half I loved, the second half was a challenge. Mostly because, I think, I did not know the books and characters she wrote about. However, this book was full of gold. I’m hopeful as I re-read this over and over through the years, and become more literate, that i would cherish it more and more. Anyway, 5 stars for the brilliancy of ideas and principles woven in.

[Lauren Fee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my second time through and I still love this unique volume. I do wish that in the compilation of it, a bit of context would have been given before each stand alone essay. Chasing down the tidbits on Charlotte Mason Poetry’s audio blog proved helpful to me this time around.

[Alyssa Bohon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite the random assortment of anecdote, philosophy, reflection and review. It felt like an antique shop of wisdom where one sorts through piles of dusty and fascinating relics to find absolute treasures tucked in between. I found the first section of 'case studies' rather entertaining, and felt a mixture of consent and disagreement.

For example, "In a general way, I do believe it's best to deal with a child's faults without making him aware that he has them. It fills the little beings with a ridiculous sense of importance to have anything belonging to them, even a fault."

I can see the wisdom in this, but ultimately, I believe that children need to see their faults, not as a personal quirk, but a manifestation of the brokenness that sin brings and a pointer to their need for Christ. This deficiency of clarity about the fallen nature shows up through out the book, and it is only subtle, because Mason does understand much of human nature, but in my opinion, the Victorian reverential reluctance to be open about matters of the soul and God weakens the force of her wisdom.

That said, the majority of this book was a positive learning experience and deeply challenged me, not only in how I educate my children, but in my own personal growth. Here are some favorite quotations:

"'Who would be pert enough to think of schooling a young mother? Not I, at any rate. Don't I know that every mother of a first child is infallible, and know more about children than all the old doctors in creation?'"

"I hardly see how to work it yet, but when one is steadfastly purposed, ways arise."

"The unoccupied mind offers harbourage, as we know, to the seven devils, and intellectual emptiness, inanition, is probably the provocative cause of much that we deplore. Perhaps few schoolboys give a though to their studies beyond the mere grind necessary to get them over; and yet boys are by nature consumed with intelligent curiosity. Give them entrancing studies which shall occupy their thoughts, and afford subjects for talk, as we all talk about the book we are reading, and there is no longer a vacuum for unclean imaginings to fill."

"Firmness on the mother's part in enforcing promptness in the taking off and putting on of outdoor clothes, etc., and punctuality at meals, and in not allowing one occupation to overlap another, secures many a half-hour of pleasant leisure for the young people, and has the double advantage of also making them feel themselves under a firm home rule."

"It is in the force of all-mighty gentleness that parents are supreme; not feebleness, not inertness - there is no strength in these; but purposeful, determined gentleness, which carries its point, only 'for it is right.' 'The servant of God must not strive,' was not written for bishops and pastors alone, but is the secret of strength for every 'bishop,' or overlooker, of a household."

"Every one is agreed that animated table-talk is a condition of health...But conversation at table is something more than means of amusement and refreshment. The career of many a young person has turned upon some chance remark made at the home table."

"The woman who has herself well in hand, who thinks her own thoughts, reserves her judgments, considers her speech, controls her actions - she is the woman who succeeds in life, with a success to be measured by her powers of heart, brain, and soul."

"Train her by trusting her. Believe her always; give her opportunities to condemn herself in speaking the truth, and her courage will answer the demand upon it."

"Let them not grow up with the notion that Christian literature consists of emotional appeals, but that intellect, mind, is on the other side. Supply them with books of calibre to give the intellect something to grapple with...the danger is, that young people in whom the spiritual life is not yet awakened should feel themselves superior to the vaunted simplicity of Christianity."

"Reason is, as we know, ready with arguments in support of any position the will has taken up."

"Children should know the things of nature as we know our friends, by their looks and ways, an unconscious comprehensive knowledge which sinks in by dint of much looking, but we set them to fragmentary scraps of scientific research. They intend investigation, and lose the joy of seeing."

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a strange read and I couldn't quite finish it. It was not what I was expecting. More than ten years ago someone randomly gave me this book in hearing my interest at home school. I had never heard of Charlotte Mason at that point and shelved the book. Thank goodness I didn't read it and base my opinion of a Charlotte Mason education in this book! Through other means I've come to know and love CM and I thought it was high time I read her own words so I pulled this off the shelf. It is a book of stories from various parents concerned for their children's character and how they then help them. Most of it was unrelatable but there were a few gems worth searching for and I had a few "light bulb" moments in how to help my own children. However I'm going to shelve the book for now and move on to her others. This particular volume is quite different in style than her others and I think they will be more what I am looking for.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a difficult book to read, as it doesn’t give clear advice like a modern self help book would. The first part of the book contains short stories that illustrate how to fix character problems. The second part is a conversation between parents about how to salvage our unproductive summer vacation; how to teach the Bible in the face of scientific discovery; and how her philosophy can change the world. The third part is more straightforward; it described the parent’s responsibility once the child enters school. And the fourth part consists of multiple literary analysis essays showing how different characters in the books had their character formed. Overall, I would not recommend this book because it uses many outdated references that the modern reader is not familiar with, and even the more straightforward sections of the book are heavy and hard to get at the point.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My third book read out of her series! I've been aiming to read one a year, talking through sections with a reading group. I had a group this spring but not in the fall, which made it a little less interesting.

This volume begins with little sketches of families and children and examples of habit training. It continues with a mock conversation between a group of adults from various professions talking through what education should look like (these got a bit confusing because there wasn't an intro or list of characters to refer to). The last section comments on the upbringing and result of various authors/their characters in literature. Again, not a lot of introduction and authors/characters I wasn't familiar with.

All in all, it was full of good things to chew on and lots of paragraphs starred to refer back to.

[Lindsay Broome · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've only read volume I and VI, so this one surprised me at how different it was. It's mostly "case studies" on education/environment, habits, etc. Some imaginary and some real. This one is definitely best if you've read others and have a base knowledge of Charlotte Mason's philosophies. I did struggle quite a bit with so many references that I didn't understand. But I tried to research as I went along and learned a good deal. Maybe readers in the late 1800s would have been more familiar with some of the context. There is always plenty to chew on for a long time in Charlotte Mason's writings. Although I slogged through this one a little bit, I came out on the other side better than I started!

[Shannon McGarvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s hard to write a detailed review on a book I slowly read over two years. However I greatly enjoyed this one. It’s not so much a direct how to, like her other books I’ve read, but more a collection of stories that shine through good and bad characters, ideas to shape them, and encouragement to be disciplined with it. Our children deserve our respect, and God has told us that if we love Him we will keep His commandments and they are not burdensome, and He has commanded us to raise our child is the fear and discipline of the Lord. Once again Charlotte Mason has proved to be my favorite Christian parenting author, next to the Bible of course.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was given five of the volumes in this series and for some reason I started with Volume 5. . . This volume had several case studies and examples of famous people as well as forming the character of a young woman. Some of it was very helpful; I appreciated the case studies about habit-forming in which it was encouraged that in order to change a bad habit in a child you need to seek to replace it with a good habit. However, some of the book seemed to just bog me down and sometimes some of Mason's antiquated language was hard for me to follow.
I hope that the other volumes are of more use!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlotte Mason, in this fifth volume, conveys rich ideas using her much advocated means of living stories. Each chapter is a short story regarding the formation of character in younger and older children, and even mothers! She is dropping book titles faster than I can catch them. This book is for anyone wondering what a wide and varied education may look like in reality, and how to order ones days to safely guard good character.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the Home Education Series, but about parenting, not homeschooling. Tons of examples of forming a child's character through habit training.

"The formation of habits is above the chief aims of education."

"The solid gain education has brought her lies in the powers and habits of attention, persistent effort, intellectual and moral endeavor, it has educed."

[Julie Mabus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled with this volume. It was difficult to read and the end dragged on forever. There are certainly wise words throughout the book but it is not a favorite of mine. Though I can now say I have read all 6 volumes at least once. This might be one to refer to for specific situations but will not be one I read cover to cover for a long time.

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read quite a bit of Charlotte Mason’s writing, this is definitely not my favorite. It is, nevertheless, rich and worthy of your time, with many ideas to ponder and much to gain from doing so. I read it slowly with a group. I recommend it, but, perhaps, not as your first exposure to her writing.

[Amy Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of excellent ideas and thoughts here. Sometimes CM is a bit too idealistic and doesn’t take into account Reformed theology’s teaching of the depravity of man or she is too easy at times on Darwin.

[Amy Etzel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt a major shift from the other books in the series, and most of it was a slog. There are some good chapters here and there, but it took some major effort for me to finally get through this one!