Homeschool Fever

Moral Instruction and Training in Schools Report of an International Inquiry …
By Michael Sadler, Executive committee of the inquiry of the
United Kingdom on moral instruction and training in schools

Question:  The comparative ethical value of different school studies - Is it desirable that more practical work and manual training should be introduced into the curriculum?

Reply from Miss Charlotte Mason

My general impression accords with that of Herbart that morality is not to be expected from the uneducated and I would add that there can be no intelligent morality without much intelligent occupation with what are called the Humanities. It seems to me that intellectual inanition during school life is responsible for many of the moral defects we deplore; for example, loose opinions, lax principles, certain evils in schools, want of finality in judgment, and decision unworthy or frivolous pursuits in after life, the shirking of responsibility etc.

 Also it appears to me that our educational advances are rather in the way of improved methods of teaching than in that of affording the scholar a wider field of such knowledge as should tend to the gradual and unconscious formation of principles and opinions. Direct moral teaching cannot supply the place of wide and intelligent culture.

Book Subnote: Miss Mason proceeds to refer to the curricula of the Parents Union School PNEU 26 Victoria Street SW as a practical illustration of her view.

Moral Instruction and Training in Schools Report of an International Inquiry