A Dangerous Adventure by Art in Kenosha

If you haven't done so yet, please read Art's article on the ChildLight USA weblog. It is a beautiful description of the unity of life, the lack of separation between life and education, of the transforming power of a living education. It is powerful.

This blog will be quiet for a while. I'm off to Colorado for 2 1/2 weeks and am so far the only one with access. See you again in mid-August. Jennifer

Formation of Character

Have any of you been following the discussion about Volume 5, Formation of Character, on the cmseries email list? We'd love to hear comments about it here and get some conversation going.

You're not too late to join the discussion. They're moving along at a relaxed speed and are discussing "The Philosopher at Home." Next week begins the chapter titled "Inconstant Kitty." Both are interesting to read and have been relevant to me in my family. (I'm not naming names, though, to protect the innocent! *grin*)

Anna Botsford Comstock

Through the Handbook of Nature Study blog, which we've referred to a few times in our meetings, I was directed to an interesting little article on the Internet: In 1988 Anna Botsford Comstock was inducted into the Conservation Hall of Fame.

Isn't it exciting to know that Comstock has been recognized for the contributions she has made to Nature Study? And to think that many of our children (as well as us!) are benefiting from her wisdom and insight.

I believe that she'd be honoured to be recognized in such a meaningful way, don't you?

In her book, Comstock emphasized the rewards of direct observation. She was ahead of her time in stressing the importance of natural relationships that work to form what we now call an ecosystem. The point of her approach to nature study, she said, was to "cultivate the child's imagination, love of the beautiful, and sense of companionship with life out-of-doors."

-- From the Conservation Hall of Fame Website

You can read about other inductees by visiting the National Wildlife Federation's inductee page.

CM Series - Volume 5 study

Well, ladies, last year there was a lot of talk about Volume 5 being a foundational resource, and guess what? CM Series has just launched a study of Volume 5 (Formation of Character), led by Art Middlekauff. We've had the pleasure of meeting Art and his wife and children at the ChildLight USA conference the past 2 years, and Art is a highly articulate, thoughtful, well researched individual. He's been a frequent contributor to the CM Series discussions in the past and has set the schedule for Volume 5, which includes posting questions to contemplate and discuss as you read each section. The book has been divided up to be completed over the next 7 months, and I'm attaching the schedule below. If you want to be part of the email discussion, you need to sign up for the CM Series group.
If you don't own your own copy of Volume 5, it is available online in original form and in a modern translation. If you want to read it on a portable device, Art has formatted it to eReader for Palm OS (personally, I don't know what that is, but if it means something to you, go for it!)

Here is Art's note to the email group:

On Sunday we will begin a study of Volume 5, "The Formation Of
Character". The plan is to cover the book in seven months. May the
Lord add His blessing as we read, discuss, and apply.

Here is the week-by-week schedule:

7/6 The Preface of Volume 5 (not the general preface, just the last six paragraphs which are the specific to Volume 5), and "The Philosopher At Home" to the top of p. 10.
7/13 "The Philosopher At Home" concluded
7/20 "Inconstant Kitty"
7/27 "Under A Cloud"
8/3 "Dorothy Elmore's Achievement" Chapters 1-3
8/10 "Dorothy Elmore's Achievement" Chapters 4-6
8/17 "Consequences"
8/24 "Mrs. Smedley's Tale"
8/31 "Ability"
9/7 "Poor Mrs. Jumeau!"
9/14 "A Happy Christmas To You!"
9/21 "What A Salvage!"
9/28 "Where Shall We Go This Year?"
10/5 "The A-B-C-Darians"
10/12 "A School-Master's Reverie"
10/19 "A Hundred Years After"
10/26 "Concerning The Schoolboy And Schoolgirl" to the top of p. 196
11/2 "Concerning The Schoolboy And Schoolgirl" p. 196 to the middle of p. 216
11/9 "Concerning The Schoolboy And Schoolgirl" concluded
11/16 "Concerning The Young Maidens At Home" to the middle of p. 253
11/23 "Concerning The Young Maidens At Home" concluded
11/30 "Two Peasant Boys"
12/7 "A Genius At 'School'" I - IV
12/14 "A Genius At 'School'" V - VIII
12/21 "A Genius At 'School'" IX - XI
12/28 "Pendennis Of Boniface"
1/4 "Young Crossjay"
1/11 "Better-Than-My-Neighbour"
1/18 "A Modern Educator: Thomas Godolphin Rooper"
1/25 "Appendix: A Few Books Dealing With Education"

Blessings,
Art in Kenosha

I hope you'll enjoy reading along with us and having light shed on these terrific passages by a multitude of 'beings breathing thoughtful breath'.

Jennifer

p.s. - Thanks Sandy, for the email to everyone that inspired my adding this to the blog. Why didn't I think of that earlier? - J.