| Author | |
Grace&Chaos
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 07 2010
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1261
|
| Posted: May 04 2011 at 10:13am | IP Logged
|
 |
|
Has anyone read these and find them useful? Are they worth the expense?
__________________
Blessings,
Jenny
Mom to dds(00,03) and dss(05,06,08,09)
Grace in Loving Chaos
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: May 04 2011 at 10:24am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I have all of them, Jenny. They're older copies that my mom gave to me. (When she homeschooled my brother and sister (20 - 25 yrs ago), she subscribed to the original series and I inherited it all.  )
I'll be back to review them for you in a bit!  Maybe someone else has them and can review them first though!
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
amarytbc
Forum Pro
Joined: July 06 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 323
|
| Posted: May 04 2011 at 1:24pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I had a subscription, but didn't keep the issues. While they were interesting, I always believed that Karen put her own spin on the Charlotte Mason approach that wasn't as close to CM as some later proponents. Many of the CM blogs today overlap what was found in those newsletters. I'm sure Jen will provide more details. As I recall, Karen's PR usually included an original PR article. Some of those are online (here's one
http://www.amblesideonline.org/PR/PR02p081Chronology.shtml )
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: May 06 2011 at 6:24pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I'm so glad to get a chance to come back and give a bit more detailed review of Karen Andreola's Parents' Review Magazine.
I enjoy the collection (I have all 6 years that were in print), and enjoy reading (and re-reading) them. Would they be a waste of your money? Probably not, but, amarytbc is right in that you can find a good deal of the support and information Karen sought to share in her magazines available free now through the sharing on blogs and other magazines and articles. So keep that in mind as you read this review.
Before I get to the magazine, I'd like to offer a bit of context regarding the time when these were written and published.
At the time Karen published her Parents' Review Magazines (early 90's), Charlotte Mason, her ideas and her methods, were really just taking off and gaining in popularity within home educating circles. Dean and Karen Andreola had just reprinted Charlotte Mason's volumes, making them widely available to home educators - this set. Of course, in the 80's/early 90's there was no internet; there were no forums or elists for sharing/brainstorming application of CM's methods in the home, and there were very few books illustrating the practical modern application of CM's methods. Karen took the needs she saw in the home educating community that made use of CM's methods, and developed her Parents' Review Magazine. These magazines were a way for her to address a need for practical information on how to implement CM in the modern home as well as provide parents with articles from the original Parents' Review magazine, edited by Charlotte Mason. Karen published a quarterly magazine. (Interestingly, in pulling mine out for this review, I see that the current price for the magazine is the same as it was in 1991, $5.00/magazine.)
One more thing before I review. I'm going to be using the words PARENTS' REVIEW frequently, for this is the name of Karen Andreola's magazine, but it is also the name of the magazine that the Parents' National Education Union (PNEU), founded by Charlotte Mason in 1888, published and issued to parents/educators/members. These are what I will refer to as the ORIGINAL articles, and these ORIGINAL articles are what Karen reprints in her magazines, making them available to a modern generation of home educators. Karen's magazine is not confined only to reprinted ORIGINAL PNEU articles though.
What would you find inside a typical Karen Andreola Parents' Review Magazine?
- A theme - Some magazines had a theme. Many magazines are simply collections of articles from Charlotte Mason's original Parents' Review, and don't necessarily fit under one theme. I'll list a few themed sets that I have:
- Art Appreciation
- An Early Appreciation of Shakespeare
- The Happiness of Habit
- History
- Poetry
- An Introduction to the Issue - These are written by Karen and include her take on the articles or theme being introduced.
- Original Parents' Review Articles - You can access a wonderful number of ORIGINAL Parents' Review articles for free through Ambleside Online's archived database of Parents' Review articles, however, if you look closely at the index of PR articles available at Ambleside, you will notice that not all are highlighted/linked as available. You'll also notice that Ambleside has archived the Parents' Review magazine only from the years of 1890-1910. I know the Parents' Review continued publishing articles until CM's death in 1923 (CM was the editor of the Parents' Review until her death), but beyond that I'm not sure what happened to the Parents' Review.
I do know that Karen Andreola does cite at least one article as originating from a 1935 Parents' Review, and one from 1945. I'm just not sure her dates are correct though since she includes an article, THE WAY OF THE WILL by Charlotte Maria Mason, and cites it as originating from the ORIGINAL Parents' Review, 1932. Miss Mason would have been dead at that time, so unless this article was published posthumously (possible), some of her dates may be off. (If anyone knows more about this, I'd really love to know!!)
The following are (just a sampling of) ORIGINAL Parents' Review articles that are included in Karen's Parents' Review Magazine and they are NOT available to read through Ambleside's archives and were likely published in the ORIGINAL Parents' Review post 1910:
- PICTURE STUDY by E. C. Plumptre
- THE HISTORY OF THE HOME SCHOOLROOM IN THE 1930's by Mrs. W. J. Brown
- ENTHUSIASM by Mrs. Boldero
- INTENSIVE WRITING by Raymond Ward
- VERY REMARKABLE WORDS by Edward Blishen
- DICKENS FROM A SCHOOLMASTER'S POINT OF VIEW by J.L. Paton
- READING ALOUD by Willingham Franklin Rawnsley
- I AM, I CAN, I OUGHT, I WILL by E. Kitching (Parents Review, 1935)
- CHILDREN'S GARDENS by Margaret Donovan
- SCHOOL WALLS AND THEIR DECORATION by Florence Howard Ellis (you KNOW I had to list that one!!!!!!
 )
There are actually very few of the ORIGINAL PR articles that have been reprinted in Karen's magazine that are also available to read online.
My one complaint -- Karen doesn't usually index which Parents' Review issue a particular article originated from. I do sometimes wish I had that information.
- Suggested reading from CM's volumes and Karen's follow up essay/reflection on that section. Examples would include Kindergarten/early learning, the use of Narration, etc.
- Activities, resources, book reviews - Many of these really excite me, especially the book reviews. Some I know about already, some treasures I discovered through book reviews or the order forms in the back of each of Karen's magazines which offer brief reviews on fantastic books.
- Stories and Excerpts - Many of these pertain to artists, composers and poets lives and are excerpts from out of print treasures. These can be super valuable in rounding out an artist's/composer's/poet's life as part of a family's studies. Others send me on a rabbit trail to find the book from which the excerpt was taken. Examples:
- A NATURE WALK WITH CHILDREN by V. Curry (BBC)
- WILLIAM WORDSWORTH - A BOY OF THE LAKE COUNTRY edited by Olive Beaupre' Miller (1921)
- Articles from readers - Many of these are quite helpful in illustrating how these families were putting Charlotte Mason's ideas and methods in place practically speaking in their home. There are more of these in the later issues than in the earlier issues of the magazine.
I'm sure I'm missing some of the resources included in these back issues, but I hope that gives you a fair idea. They do tend to evolve a bit in terms of organization and resources included over the years - so a 1991 magazine won't look or be formatted the same as one from 1996.
I feel I need to add that while these are certainly written from a Christian perspective, they are not Catholic. I have not yet found anything contradictory to the Catholic faith within these magazines.
The resources, articles and excerpts Karen has gathered in support of applying Charlotte Mason's methods to home education is quite remarkable, and could make this collection useful and instructional. Anyone that uses living books as the primary vehicle for communicating ideas would find some valuable articles in the back issues of these magazines.
__________________________________________ __________________ ________________________________________________
I'd like to add an additional CM resource that I enjoy. Childlight USA publishes The Review and makes them available for free download and reading. You can find their back issues here. I really enjoy reading these thought provoking articles.
I hope this review is helpful in considering the back issues of Karen's Parents' Review Magazines!
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Grace&Chaos
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 07 2010
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1261
|
| Posted: May 06 2011 at 7:01pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks ladies for your thoughts.
Jen, your review is most helpful . Thank you  .
Since for the second year I'll be filing on my own and not with an umbrella program/curriculum I find myself with some room to purchase a few "teacher resources" and many less textbooks  . (I just got in the mail three of CM's volumes to start my spring/summer reading).
There is no doubt that so much is available on line for free and I try to take advantage of said great resources. But call me old fashion I really enjoy holding a magazine/book. For example I love getting my Mater et Magistra in the mail  . I'm sure I'll enjoy these as well (just wish there was a way of getting one each month and not all at once  )
I've printed my order form and will mail it soon  .
__________________
Blessings,
Jenny
Mom to dds(00,03) and dss(05,06,08,09)
Grace in Loving Chaos
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: May 06 2011 at 9:29pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
GraceandChaos wrote:
| But call me old fashion I really enjoy holding a magazine/book. |
|
|
Me too, Jenny!
I think you'll enjoy these! Even though they'll all come at once, I think you'll find (like me) that these make wonderful little rewards for reading during a late afternoon tea/coffee break....or as part of a teacher work-week....or a special stay-at-home retreat!
It's been a goal of mine for some time to get them indexed and cross-referenced! I'll keep you in mind when I do! I'll be sure to share!!!
I'm glad the review was helpful!
And now...ahem...pardon me while I obsess some more!
Mackfam wrote:
| I know the Parents' Review continued publishing articles until CM's death in 1923 (CM was the editor of the Parents' Review until her death), but beyond that I'm not sure what happened to the Parents' Review. |
|
|
From the Armitt Collection:
Quote:
| Charlotte Mason never retired, and until she died in January 1923 at the age of 81 she was still very much the driving force of both the House of Education and the PNEU. On her death a Council was set up to oversee the House of Education and the PNEU, together with the Practising School (housed in Fairfield and Annex on Rydal Road, with its own headmistress) and the Parents Union Correspondence School, the body responsible for the detailed work of providing syllabuses and lesson notes for home school tuition and for the schools using the same materials, and still based at the time in Scale How. The first chairman of the Council was, significantly, H.W. Household, the Director of Education for Gloucestershire, who had already introduced Charlotte Mason‘s methods into the county‘s primary schools. |
|
|
I know that the PNEU functioned for some time into the 20th century, at least through 1960, when they came under the control of the County Council. I'm certain that they continued publishing the Parents' Review beyond 1923, but I can't remember now where I read it, so I can't say for sure.
I did find this, but I don't know the source.
Clearly, I'm obsessing about it now though.  I'll stop....and just let you enjoy the back issues in peace.
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
10 Bright Stars
Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 16 2006
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 728
|
| Posted: May 09 2011 at 9:09pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Jen,
I am sorry, but I must just say, you are truly an amazing woman! I am always astounded by your mental and exterior organization. You are a very good writer too! Just had to say it since I always think it!
__________________
Kim married to Bob (22y)
Mom of 11 blessings:
Bobby 19, David 17, Noah 14,
Mary 12, Gracie 10,
Isabelle and Sophia 8,
Gabrielle 6,
William Anthony 4, Joseph 3 and Luisa Marie - born in M
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
10 Bright Stars
Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 16 2006
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 728
|
| Posted: May 09 2011 at 9:12pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Also, a silly question, but I always wonder about it. For example, how did you come across the Childlight USA information, for example. When I google CM stuff, it is always the usual suspects so to speak. It seems as if everyone else is privy to a whole wealth of info. that I seem to not know about even with the internet! I have Karen's books and knew about the review, but when I visit folk's blogs etc., there seems to be a lot of stuff I don't know about anymore!!!! Odd question or just an observation I guess. I am trying to get back in touch with my CM roots as of late for my daughters and it has been SO refreshing!
__________________
Kim married to Bob (22y)
Mom of 11 blessings:
Bobby 19, David 17, Noah 14,
Mary 12, Gracie 10,
Isabelle and Sophia 8,
Gabrielle 6,
William Anthony 4, Joseph 3 and Luisa Marie - born in M
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: May 09 2011 at 9:54pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
10 Bright Stars wrote:
Jen,
I am sorry, but I must just say, you are truly an amazing woman! I am always astounded by your mental and exterior organization. You are a very good writer too! Just had to say it since I always think it! |
|
|
You're so kind, Kim!!
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: May 09 2011 at 9:59pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Mackfam wrote:
And now...ahem...pardon me while I obsess some more!
Mackfam wrote:
| I know the Parents' Review continued publishing articles until CM's death in 1923 (CM was the editor of the Parents' Review until her death), but beyond that I'm not sure what happened to the Parents' Review. |
|
|
From the Armitt Collection:
Quote:
| Charlotte Mason never retired, and until she died in January 1923 at the age of 81 she was still very much the driving force of both the House of Education and the PNEU. On her death a Council was set up to oversee the House of Education and the PNEU, together with the Practising School (housed in Fairfield and Annex on Rydal Road, with its own headmistress) and the Parents Union Correspondence School, the body responsible for the detailed work of providing syllabuses and lesson notes for home school tuition and for the schools using the same materials, and still based at the time in Scale How. The first chairman of the Council was, significantly, H.W. Household, the Director of Education for Gloucestershire, who had already introduced Charlotte Mason‘s methods into the county‘s primary schools. |
|
|
I know that the PNEU functioned for some time into the 20th century, at least through 1960, when they came under the control of the County Council. I'm certain that they continued publishing the Parents' Review beyond 1923, but I can't remember now where I read it, so I can't say for sure. |
|
|
I wrote to the Library of Congress since I knew they held one complete collection of original Parents' Review magazines, originally published by the PNEU. I finally have my answer:
Library of Congress, Historical Periodicals wrote:
| We have this title from Volume 1 (1890) to Volume 77 (June 1966) |
|
|
That's a lot of great CM insight!
And...most importantly, I can quit obsessing now!
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: May 09 2011 at 10:08pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
10 Bright Stars wrote:
| Also, a silly question, but I always wonder about it. For example, how did you come across the Childlight USA information, for example. |
|
|
SuzanneG told me about it!
What a thrill to find these articles/periodicals in The Review....and be able to print and read them! If you don't know about the Childlight USA blog, you'll want to read some of the thought provoking articles there as well!
10 Bright Stars wrote:
| I am trying to get back in touch with my CM roots as of late for my daughters and it has been SO refreshing! |
|
|
This is very refreshing, Kim! Freshening up some ideas and eliminating cumbersome ones can really lighten up days in a lovely way. Enjoy your reading and freshening up!!
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Grace&Chaos
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 07 2010
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1261
|
| Posted: May 10 2011 at 8:37am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Mackfam wrote:
That's a lot of great CM insight!
And...most importantly, I can quit obsessing now! |
|
|
Thanks Jen, Great thread for my favorites!!
__________________
Blessings,
Jenny
Mom to dds(00,03) and dss(05,06,08,09)
Grace in Loving Chaos
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Grace&Chaos
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 07 2010
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1261
|
| Posted: Sept 23 2011 at 8:15pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Finally got my box today!!! I've bound the 1991 year so far and I like the look. This will preserve them so much better than the one or two staples that keeps the loose pages together. Thanks for the tip Jen! I'll have to make a post to share my choice of pretty paper covers .
And now off too grab a cup of coffee (not my tea season yet) and start reading the first article: "The Charm of Nature Study". There couldn't have been a more perfect one to start with
__________________
Blessings,
Jenny
Mom to dds(00,03) and dss(05,06,08,09)
Grace in Loving Chaos
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: Sept 24 2011 at 6:41pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Grace&Chaos wrote:
Finally got my box today!!! I've bound the 1991 year so far and I like the look. This will preserve them so much better than the one or two staples that keeps the loose pages together. Thanks for the tip Jen! I'll have to make a post to share my choice of pretty paper covers .
And now off too grab a cup of coffee (not my tea season yet) and start reading the first article: "The Charm of Nature Study". There couldn't have been a more perfect one to start with |
|
|
Oh, I'm just thrilled for you, Jenny! The Charm of Nature Study is a fantastic first article! So much scope for the imagination!
Enjoy your Parents' Review back issues! I know they'll supply lots of inspiration, and I can't wait to see your binding!!!!!
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
ElisabethGrace
Forum Pro
Joined: Aug 17 2005
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 130
|
| Posted: Aug 03 2012 at 8:48pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I have wanted to purchase these since I read this thread last year. Now I finally decide to take the plunge & Karen Andreola's website states that it is undergoing reconstruction! 
Anyone know where else they might be purchased? 
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
|
|
4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Karen Andreola's Parent Review Magazines?
