When Children Love to Learn: A Practical Application of Charlotte Mason's Philosophy for Today

by Eve Anderson

Moralism, a seemingly harmless practice, is actually a noxious gas to a child’s understanding of God and truth. A favorite example is the misuse of John 6:1- 15, the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000. In a storybook that I read to our teachers in training, the authors focus on the precious little boy who willingly “shares” his lunch of five loaves and two fish with Jesus, who in turn feeds everyone. The book ends with the admonition, “Jesus loves us to share with others.” So is there a problem in this teaching? Isn’t sharing taught here? The answers are a resounding yes and an emphatic no! Yes, there is great harm when the truth of a text is manipulated to force a lesson on the minds of children. The practice lacks integrity. No, sharing is not taught in this passage. But a greater harm than forcing a moral on a text can occur. Children are directed by the author to focus on human actions rather than on the power of Christ. In the long run, a diet of this type of “bread” produces a student who defines himself by what he does rather than who he is. Thus this millstone hinders a true understanding of the gospel. Even those stories that rightfully point out the goodness of a biblical or other literary character should be balanced by acknowledging that character’s frailty and need for God.