"Children Are Born Persons"

This is Charlotte Mason's first point in her 20 points on education.  But what does it mean?

I believe it means that children are not something that we parents mold, shape, or prune.  Instead, children are people; people who need to grow in knowledge.

Parents do not own children.  We own a dog.  Our children are person and they belong to God.  Parents are merely entrusted with giving them an education.

I love Noah Webster's definition of education from the 1828 edition of his dictionary.

"Education, n. [L. educatio] The bringing up, as of a child, instruction; formation of manners.  Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations.  To give children a good education in manners, arts and science, is important; to give them a religious education is indispensable, and an immense responsibility rests on parents and guardians who neglect these duties."

Notice the wording Mr. Webster uses: enlighten and correct.  These are positive words.  But education today has become something that we use to mold, shape, or prune children.  Notice that these words are negative in that they are forcing the child to become something other than what he/she was made to be. 

God only has the ability to mold, shape, or prune.  We, as parents, need to enlighten and correct the child.