This month marks the 100th anniversary of Charlotte Mason’s death, and Calvary Schools is setting this week aside to share with our community more about her life and history. Each day, you’ll be learning from educators around the country who have been impacted by her teachings and have dedicated their lives to educational renewal one student at a time.
The church that Charlotte Mason attended in Ambleside, England
By Ben Sytsma
Principal, Calvary Schools of Holland
As I look back on my teaching career, I can genuinely say that I am very grateful to have worked at Calvary Schools of Holland for the duration of my career. Over the past years, there are many things that I have come to love about our school.
I love how each morning starts with an assembly where we pray, sing praises, and greet each other warmly to start the day. I love that there are small class sizes where teachers can truly disciple their students and where each student knows not only the kids in their own class, but knows nearly every student in the whole school by name. I love how much of the day is spent reading and discussing good books together, or spending time in God’s creation. I love watching students take great joy in meaningful conversations together. I love that our students take great satisfaction in doing hard work well, whether it be in math, handwork, nature study, picture study, or geography.
Eight years ago was the first time I stepped into an Ambleside classroom. I was in Fredericksburg, Texas visiting their school to learn more about Charlotte Mason and the Ambleside method. The board and leadership at Calvary Schools had recently decided to implement the Ambleside philosophy and method at our elementary campus.
When I walked into the classrooms in Fredericksburg, there were many things that were unique and different from other classrooms and schools I had experienced. The classroom was beautiful, with framed pieces of art, beautiful rocking chairs, and shelves full of quality books. We began each day with an assembly where we would all sing a hymn and recite a prayer together. I saw students enjoying good books and delighting in discussion over the ideas within. I saw students who cared about their work and took the time to be neat, precise, and accurate. I saw students who had positive relationships with their teachers and with each other. Joy and peace filled the rooms.
It is no coincidence that the description of Ambleside School of Fredericksburg and Calvary Schools of Holland sound very similar. Both of these schools (and many others across the world) work directly with Ambleside Schools International in providing a high quality education based on the philosophy and methodology of Christian educator, Charlotte Mason. A great deal of what we all love about Calvary Schools is directly connected with Ambleside Schools International. Ambleside has created a movement and has invited schools into that movement to be partners, creators, and collaborators in developing schools that implement the ideas of Charlotte Mason within their unique environment.
At Calvary Schools of Holland, we are a part of the worldwide Ambleside movement, a movement that we hope will continue to thrive and grow.
Charlotte Mason started a movement in England at the turn of the 20th century. Through our partnership with Ambleside Schools International, we continue the spirit of that movement. We are implementing a method of education that is utterly different than the prevailing educational system of our society and culture — an education that is even different than other Christian schools. We are actively looking for ways to further this movement and provide more families and children with a full and rich education – a living education.
The Skylark Emblem and Its Connection to Mason
The skylark is the logo of Ambleside Schools International because it was Charlotte Mason’s favorite bird. The Ambleside area of England was home to many skylarks which were known for their musical sounds and vertical flight. Skylarks are field birds and as they rise above the field, the bird’s call rises sweetly with it; an apt metaphor for singing joyfully as we rise above difficulties. This bird was also the subject of a famous Percy Bysshe Shelley poem which Mason also particularly enjoyed.
Hail to thee, blithe Spirit!
Bird thou never wert,
That from Heaven, or near it,
Pourest thy full heartIn profuse strains of unpremeditated art.
Higher still and higher
From the earth thou springest
Like a cloud of fire;
The blue deep thou wingest,
And singing still dost soar, and soaring ever singest.
– Percy Bysshe Shelley, “To A Skylark”