Welcome to the Idyll Challenge for Women! 

A little about this Challenge:

THIS GROUP IS CLOSED UNTIL SUMMER 2018 when a new 2 Year Rotation begins. 

My friend Art Middlekauff put out a challenge to men summer 2016 to read all of Mason's 6 volumes in 2 years.  Charlotte Mason wrote an article called "Three Educational Idylls" in which she describes three theories of education.  In that article she comments that those of us using her methods might find it wise to read her volumes every two years.  So that's what we're gong to do, ladies!  The men are all signed up and ready to read and we need to rise up and meet this challenge as well!  So join me and my friend Sheila from Canada as we read 90 pages of Mason's work each month. We'll also meet for 90 minutes each month for online meetings.

We meet on the third Tuesday from 8-9:30 pm (CST) OR the 4th Sunday from 7:00-8:30 pm (CST) of each month.  If there is a 5th Tues. or Sun. We sometimes move to those weeks, so we have a bit more time to do our reading.  You can choose which meeting you want to attend. 

Please review the schedule below and read the rules for participation in this challenge.  You must keep up with the reading and assignments in order to stay in the challenge. So please consider this seriously before you join us.   If you use the Join Now button below, please leave a comment in the comment box about why you'd like to join us and make a note that you are joining the Idyll Challenge! Thanks! 

Rules

  1. This is for women only, since the men already have a group! 
  2. We will be following the men's schedule so that if a married couple is participating (in the men's and women's groups) they can have further discussions at home together.  
  3. We will read approximately 90 pages per month. You can do the reading whenever you want. For example, you can read 3 pages per day, or you can read all 90 pages in a single sitting.
  4. We will meet online once per month for 90 minutes for a live discussion.  The only preparation required is that you do the reading and come with three things:
  • One thing you would like to do based on the reading
  • One question you had about the reading
  • One thing you have a hard time with (either understanding,  implementing, or agreeing with) in the reading
  • If you cannot come to the online discussion for a certain month then you can e-mail me ([email protected]) with the answers to your 3 questions before the date of our meeting and that will still keep you in the challenge.  
The Idyll Challenge begins on August 1, 2016.  If you would like to join, please email me and I will sign you up! 

Idyll Schedule

2016
August
Background Reading: 
  1. Fact Check: Did Charlotte Mason Reject Original Sin?
  2. The Theological Significance of Charlotte Mason’s Second Principle
Philosophy of Education:  
Author’s Preface (pp. xxv-xxxi)
Book I  Introduction (pp. 1-21), Chapter 1 to 4 (pp. 23-79)

September
Philosophy of Education:
 Book I Chapter 5 to Chapter 10 Section I (pp. 80-168)

October
​Philosophy of Education:
Book I Chapter 10 Section II to Book II Chapter 1 (pp. 169-249)

November
Philosophy of Education:
Book II Chapter 2 to (pp. 250-342)

December
Philosophy of Education:
Supplementary (pp. 343-348)
Parents and Children:
Chapter 1 to 8 (pp. 1-82)

2017 
January
Parents and Children:
Chapter 9 to 15 (pp. 83-167)

February
Parents and Children:
Chapter 16 to 23 (pp. 168-256)

March
Parents and Children:
Chapter 24 to 26 (pp. 257-290)
School Education:
Chapter 1 to 5 (pp. 1-55)

April
School Education:
Chapter 6 to 12 (pp. 56-136)

May
School Education:
Chapter 13 to 20 (pp 137-227)

June
School Education:
Chapter 21 to 22 (pp. 228-247)
Home Education:
Part I to Part II Section V (pp. 1-62)

July
Home Education:
Part II Section VI to Part IV Section I (pp. 62-149)

August
Home Education:
Part IV Section I to Part V Section X (pp. 149-238)

September
Home Education:
Part V Section XI to Part VI Section I (pp. 238-329)

October
Home Education:
Part VI Section II to III (pp. 329-352)
Formation of Character:
Part I Section I to Section IV Chapter 4 (pp. 1-63)

November
Formation of Character:
Part I Section IV Chapter 5 to Part II Section III (pp. 64-143)

December
Formation of Character:
Part II Section IV to Part III Section I (pp. 144-235)

2018

January
Formation of Character:
Part III Section II to Part IV Section II Unit IV (pp. 236-318)

February
Formation of Character:
​Part IV Section II Unit V to Part IV Section IV (pp. 318-400)

March
Formation of Character:
Part IV Section V to VI (pp. 401-428)
Ourselves, Book I:
 Preface, Introduction, Introductory, Part I, Part II Chapter 1 to 6 (to p. 65)

April
Ourselves, Book I:
Part II Chapter 7 to Part II Chapter 13 (pp. 66-149)

May
Ourselves,Book I:
Part III Chapter 14- Part IV (pp. 150-210)
Ourselves, Book II:
Introductory – Part I Chapter 1 to 4 (pp. 1-28)

June
Ourselves, Book II:
Part I Chapter 5 to 17 (pp. 29-114)

July
Ourselves, Book II: 
Part I Chapter 18 to Part III Chapter 7 (pp. 115-202)