Commonplace: Home Education...

Oh so excited to begin reading Vol. 1 Home Education by Charlotte Mason. I already have nearly the entire preface underlined, but just for starters, here is the first paragraph....

The education outlook is rather misty and depressing both at home and abroad. That science should be a staple of education, that the teaching of Latin, of modern languages, or mathematics, must be reformed, that nature and handicrafts should be pressed into service for the training of the eye and hand, that boys and girls must learn to write English and therefore must know something of history and literature; and, on the other hand, that education must be made more technical and utilitarian - these, and such as these, are the cries of expedience with which we take the field. But we have no unifying principle, no definite aim; in fact, no philosophy of education. As a stream can rise no higher than its source, so it is probably that no educational effort can rise above the whole scheme of thought which gives it birth; and perhaps this is the reason of all the 'fallings from us, vanishings,' failures, and disappointments which mark our education records.  

It really shouldn't surprise me, but it does...the more things change, the more they stay the same. I can't help but wonder what Charlotte would think of the current state of education if she were alive today.

Going to begin Part I, Some Preliminary Considerations. Won't you come along....