I noticed she had definite ideas about which artists she liked – Degas is one of her favourites and she has always liked to draw anything ballet related – but I made sure she also had exposure to a wide range of artists.
We don’t see what is happening beneath the soil when we sow seeds just as we don’t see the internal process of a child’s educational growth. We sow the seeds, provide the appropriate atmosphere, and let patience have her perfect work.
“Our business is to give children the great ideas of life, of religion, history, science; but it is the ideas we must give…”
The premise of a slow-cooker is that food is cooked over an extended period of time at a low temperature. As the cooking is in process, steam condenses on the inside of the lid forming a seal which helps to retain heat. Generally, you keep the lid on during the cooking process, but in my house there’s usually someone who is tempted to meddle & lift the lid to have a peek at what’s inside.
You’re not going to ruin a meal by lifting the lid but you may need to cook things for a bit longer if heat is lost.
If you meddled with seeds in a punnet to check out their progress you’d probably do some damage.
I think there’s enough evidence of children being ‘meddled with’ by being unduly pushed, labelled, scrutinized, or having excessive expectations placed upon them too early, to assume that it can be harmful.
My husband and I met and married while we were going to a church in a different part of the city. Our children were born while we were part of that community and we had long-term friendships, some of them going back twenty years and more. We re-located and moved to another church when our eldest was ready to start university and our youngest was only two years of age. Within a short time I was frustrated that I hadn’t made any real friends and felt isolated. We met up with some friends who had gone through a similar experience a few years before we did and one of them said a wise thing that I took to heart:
“A twenty year relationship takes twenty years to develop. You won’t find it in six months” Simple and true and something I needed to remind myself of again and again.
Education, that “…series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits…” doesn’t happen overnight.
Years of listening to a shrieking violin and then all of a sudden it begins to sound like music. Good music!
This is where your educational philosophy really matters. It should help to focus our direction and assure us we’re on the right track or direct us back to where we should be. (For an example of applied philosophy see A Philosophy of Education by Charlotte Mason. A brief summary of how the philosophy works is here.)
His wonders to perform:
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
Of never-failing skill,
He treasures up His bright designs,
And works His sovereign will.
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
Unfolding every hour:
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own Interpreter,
I quite like this analogy. :)And your daughter is a skilled artist!
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Grace analogy between slow cooking and education. I do not think that “slow” is dead or an anachronism. I think it is just being pushed a little by the fast and sometimes superficial. I think it will be with us for a long time.
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Very encouraging. Thank you!
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🙂 Thank you.
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Wow, I really enjoyed this post today! Thanks, I needed that! Your blog is a continual encouragement to my homeschool efforts.
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Ten Arrows – thanks so much for your kind words. Much appreciated. 🙂
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This was very encouraging Carol. I have the olders, some of whom have graduated from university and I can see the fruit, and one that is in the shrieking viola stage with lots of “a, an, ant…” stage. You would think I would keep this all in mind more readily! You referred to the hymn we’ve been singing all of October. It is such a good one. It all is really a call to faithfulness in the little things and living by faith that the Lord will use and multiply our efforts. It’s almost like planting a bulb without even knowing what type (not that I do that often in Florida) and waiting to see the Lord bring it to flower, knowing it is all really His work. November finds me a bit weary and needing refreshment and these reminders area just what I needed! Some day we will have that cup of coffee together! 💗Betty
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I like your bulb analogy, Betty. ❤️ I’m not familiar with the music that goes with those verses and yes, I think one day we’ll have that coffee. 🙂
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