Charlotte M MasonCharlotte Maria Shaw Mason was an educator and reformer who played a significant role in shaping ideas about education in England in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Born on January 1, 1842, in Bangor to Joshua Mason and Margaret Shw, Mason developed a vision of education rooted in the belief that children are whole persons deserving of respect and intellectual nourishment. Her educational journey included training at the Home and Colonial Society, which informed her pedagogical approach. She later worked at Bishop Otter Teacher Training College under the supervision of Fanny Trevor, gaining practical experience that would influence her theories. Her philosophy stressed the importance of forming habits, engaging with living books, and cultivating a love of learning rather than relying solely on exams or strict discipline. After leaving Bishop Otter College, Mason continued her work independently, publishing several books and founding the Parents National Educational Union. She spent her later years in Ambleside, where she died on January 16, 1923. Her legacy remains influential among educators and homeschooling communities around the world. Read More Read Less