For the Children's Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School [Paperback]

Susan Schaeffer Macaulay (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 17, 2009

Shows parents and teachers how children's learningexperiences can be extended to every aspect of life, giving them anew richness, stability, and joy for living.

Every parent and teacher wants to give his or her children thebest education possible. We hope that the education we provide is ajoyful adventure, a celebration of life, and preparation forliving. But sadly, most education today falls short of thisgoal.

For the Children's Sake is a book about what educationcan be, based on a Christian understanding of what it means to behuman-to be a child, a parent, a teacher-and on the Christianmeaning of life. The central ideas have been proven over many yearsand in almost every kind of educational situation, including ideasthat Susan and Ranald Macaulay have implemented in their own familyand school experience.

For the Children's Sake will benefit parents andteachers in any educational setting-homeschooling, public school,or private school. This new edition features an updated coverdesign.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

SUSAN SCHAEFFER MACAULAY grew up in Switzerland at L'Abri Fellowship, which was founded by her parents Francis and Edith Schaeffer. She and her husband Ranald Macaulay established and led the L'Abri branch in England for several years. She is also the author of For the Family's Sake and contributed to Books Children Love and When Children Love to Learn.

From AudioFile

Fifteen years ago--in the world of education, a millennium--Macaulay wrote her ideological treatise on schooling, designed to assist parents and teachers in creating education that is both enriching and joyous. She states in her preface that the book embraces the Christian worldview as it applies the ideas and methods of educator Charlotte Mason to home-schooling, public education and family life. Mary Woods's crisp, cheerful reading aims to convince and encourage listeners. However, because of Macaulay's lifelong affiliation with the L'Abri Christian Fellowship in Switzerland and England, the underlying religious message is strong. Despite the acknowledged datedness of many of the books and materials suggested for use, and the underlying political tract, this recording will interest the Christian home-school market. T.B. (c) AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 166 pages
• Publisher: Crossway Books (June 17, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1433506955
• ISBN-13: 978-1433506956
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #69,484 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #78 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Ministry & Church Leadership > Youth Ministry

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

104 of 106 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST READ! :-), April 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: For the Children's Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School (Child-Life Book) (Paperback)

This book set the vision in my mind for the type of education I'd like to provide for my children -- warm, intelligent, full of life. A living education full of living books, living ideas, living people! For the past eight years, I've tried to re-read this book at least once a year to keep my vision fresh and my mind focused. This is the one book I always recommend -- or give as a gift -- to anyone as they first consider the idea home education. A real treasure!

82 of 83 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The book that changed my life., January 16, 1999

By 

Lynn B. Hocraffer (rural Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: For the Children's Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School (Child-Life Book) (Paperback)

I began homeschooling our children in 1985 using a workbook program. I read a review of this book in Mary Pride's Big Book, and borrowed it through InterLibrary Loan. Now I have my own copy! This book is a short introduction to home education philosophy as well as practice. Charlotte Mason included in the Preface of each of her 6 volume set called "Home Education", 18 Principles as a synopsis. If you are following these 18, you may be said to be a Charlotte Mason person. All 18 are explained in this book, in a short and easy to read format. I recommend this book to anyone considering homeschooling, or who is tired of the way they are learning and living now. CM is a Christian literature-based educational philosophy. It is a Discipline, an Atmosphere, a Life - and this book can show you how to get there.

102 of 111 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is the best first step in examining homeschooling, July 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: For the Children's Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School (Child-Life Book) (Paperback)

Mrs. MacAulay interprets the principles of Charlotte Mason, an English school teacher with ideas similar to Maria Montessori (but grounded in Scripture). Miss Mason lived from 1842-1923 and her writing is a bit flowery for today's readers. This book gets to the essentials of her philosophy outlined in this mottto "I am, I can, I ought, I will". What that means is basically that teachers need to help children understand their deep value to God, expose them to many activities so they can discover their gifts, teach the unchanging morals of Scripture and guide children in making moral choices for themselves.