Calvert full currriculum

by Sharon
(Kansas)

I used Calvert's full curriculum (and some extras) for grades 4,5 and 8. I was impressed with the way in which the program was organized. No other program offers the teacher just one main lesson plan book plus one extra plan book for math.

Calvert put everything together by the day: materials needed, subjects required for that day, explanations of the objective to teach as well as page numbers and even web sites or other ideas for further explorations of the objectives. This method certainly stream lines the work for the teacher.

My objection is to the extreme variation of quality in the various materials Calvert picks for the parent. The history book for 4th grade is dry, almost void of pictures, and good only for making most children deplore history studies. The 8th grade science materials are so full of erroneous information as to make me wonder if Calvert wishes to teach or merely to indoctrinate children.

In years past, Calvert offered acceptable materials for even a Christian creationist. Now that many of the chosen books are by Hartcourt, the gloves are off and the agenda has become more apparent. Calvert school does still offer some excellent programs like their graded spelling CDs and their simple grammar/usage workbook.

I am sad to say that, in the attempt to update materials, Calvert has failed its long-standing good name. They could have removed from their offerings some of the horridly dry materials written by the school founder in the late 1800s and attempted to consistently provide well written materials across the board. They could have also offered varied perspectives of leading scientists today instead of teaching presumption as fact. They seem content to rely on their good name of yesteryear; I am not going to experiment with them any more.

Disheartened,
Sharon