Day 15 Best Books

Arthur Rackham ~ Arabella Stuart amongst the books 1915

“In their power of giving impulse and stirring emotion is another use of books, the right books; but that is just the question––which are the right books? ––a point upon which I should not wish to play Sir Oracle. The 'hundred best books for the schoolroom' may be put down on a list, but not by me. I venture to propose one or two principles in the matter of schoolbooks, and shall leave the far more difficult part, the application of those principles, to the reader.…Again, as I have already said, ideas must reach us directly from the mind of the thinker, and it is chiefly by means of the books they have written that we get into touch with the best minds.”
                                                   
                                                   *

“Children have a right to the best we possess; therefore, their lesson books should be, as far as possible, our best books.”

                                                   *
 
“Our business is to give him mind-stuff, and both quality and quantity are essential. Naturally, each of us possesses this mind-stuff only in limited measure, but we know where to procure it; for the best thought the world possesses is stored in books; we must open books to children, the best books; our own concern is abundant provision and orderly serving.”

                                                   *
 
“But they must learn to know literature by being familiar with it from the very first. A child's intercourse must always be with good books, the best that we can find.”

                                                   
                                                   *

“We must put into their hands the sources which we must needs use for ourselves, the best books of the best writers.”

                                                   *

“… by affording all the best books containing all the sorts of knowledge….”
                                                   *

       “…we are looking not for ‘ends’ but for ‘sources.’”
                                                                                      
                                                   ~ Parker Palmer

 
Examen: “Why must children read the best books?”  Do I know how to tell “a right book?”  Am I putting children in touch with “the best minds?”

~~~~~~~
 In their power: Charlotte Mason, School Education, 3:177.
Children have a right:  Charlotte Mason, Towards a Philosophy of Education, 6:19.
Our business is: 6:26.
But they must: 6:51.
We must put: 6:76.
​ ...by affording all: 6:348.
...we are looking: Parker J. Palmer, To Know as We Are Known: Education as a       Spiritual Journey, Reprint edition (San Francisco: HarperOne, 1993), Preface.
Why must children:  Charlotte Mason, Parents & Children 2:307.

Day 15 Best Books meditation/100 Days copyright Laurie Bestvater 2025
​

---