Making citizens: narration as participation, participation as narration

This chapter explores Charlotte Mason’s writings and practices to imagine how community-based settings could be seen as possible sites for ‘making citizens’. In this view, narration and participation are complementary approaches that can deepen our understanding of citizenship. First, Mason’s philosophy and methods for teaching citizenship, as well as her own leadership example, are offered to show how ethical and responsible leadership are embedded in her approach Examples of youth engagement in North West England are provided to see how community-based contexts support Mason’s pedagogy – one through creative process in partnership with local businesses and another through ecological citizen science – providing tangible examples for practitioners. Finally, three reenvisioned principles emerge to provide new possibilities for shaping atmosphere, habits, and living ideas to situate the ‘Citizen Story’ at the centre of our shared experiences. In advancing Mason’s philosophy and methods, there is both an opportunity and a societal imperative to carry forward diverse forms of knowledge to help create a context for creative problem-solving in our communities. The seemingly intractable human-environment problems mask latent possibilities for making citizens. These could be approached at the local level to consider again atmosphere, habits, and living ideas as place-based conduits for vitalising social, economic, and ecological activities. If we view these diverse landscapes as fertile soil for making citizens, we can apply the complementary tools of narration and participation towards the public good. In this way, Mason’s methods enhance individual and collective responses to the moral imperatives of our own day, advancing practical entry points to strengthen knowledge, people, and communities through her philosophy.