Philosophy of Education

“I am. I can. I ought. I will.” - Charlotte Mason

At Wildwood Co-op, we use the Charlotte Mason Philosophy of Education to teach and learn. Charlotte Mason was a British educator in the 19th century who came back in popularity after Susan Schaeffer Macauley’s book For the Children’s Sake. Charlotte Mason’s life’s work and philosophy can be summarized in her 20 Principles. For a deeper understanding of her philosophy, it is best to read Charlotte Mason’s own words in her six volumes, particularly Home Education (vol 1), School Education (vol 3), and Philosophy of Education (vol 6).

Wildwood Co-op, though heavily influenced by Charlotte Mason and her ideas, does not require you to adhere to following her methods in your homeschool. Our philosophy of education will have direct implications for our methods, and registered families must understand how to teach and learn using this method in the co-op setting. We believe Charlotte Mason’s philosophies and methods fulfill a holistic view of what a person is and why they learn.