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Is it normal for schools to trash other curriculum?


cherokeeblue
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I just got off the phone with someone returning an inquiry from Forest Trail Academy. I was trying to find out how their program compared to Ignitia, the Alpha Omega curriculum my daughter's school uses now, and WOW was he condescending!! First, he nearly dismissed it as a Christian curriculum (you mean one of those workbook programs...no we're nothing like that). When I explained Ignitia was in fact computer based, he told me he'd never heard of them (that's how obscure the program must be). I told him it was part of a group of educational options offered by Alpha Omega and rattled off some of their others. When I named Switched on Schoolhouse, he told me he knew that program was a terrible one (it was impossible for a child to learn anything from it). He did little to say how their curriculum was superior, but he was downright nasty about her current program. I am not saying it's perfect...obviously it's not or I would not be looking elsewhere but since when is it good sales practice to put down a parent's choice of school? That's putting down your potential customer?

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I don't think it's normal, per se, but I don't think it's out of the normal realm, either. He seemed defensive and protective about what he uses.  However, I would use the attitude as a gauge as to whether I wanted my child in that environment, where respect is not given when there is a disagreement.

 

Small thing - I would not ask another educational site to compare curricula.  They may not have used it or been familiar with it, nor do I care about their opinion if I'm currently using it.  Instead, I would gather the facts on what they use and do the comparison myself.  It might be something to consider when calling your next school.

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I don't think it's normal, per se, but I don't think it's out of the normal realm, either. He seemed defensive and protective about what he uses.  However, I would use the attitude as a gauge as to whether I wanted my child in that environment, where respect is not given when there is a disagreement.

 

Small thing - I would not ask another educational site to compare curricula.  They may not have used it or been familiar with it, nor do I care about their opinion if I'm currently using it.  Instead, I would gather the facts on what they use and do the comparison myself.  It might be something to consider when calling your next school.

Definitely will use his attitude as a gauge.

 

And will take your advice. I am in sales in a field where its very typical to get asked to compare what I offer to competitors so just seemed like a pretty normal "ask" given my background. When I am asked to compare, my best practice is always to stick with facts first–how we are similar, how we are different (competitive advantages)–and if I am unsure simply to say "not familiar with that one" and offer an overview of our features and benefits. Trashing the competition or telling a customer a competitor is a bad buy is always a no-no!

Edited by cherokeeblue
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Once had a PS teacher grill me over what I use in my homeschool because he knew some homeschoolers who used IHO subpar materials.  I thought he was being an arse, but whatever.

 

Common?  Who knows  It's the sort of thing I think is better left not said to a customer.  It comes off as unprofessional.  My husband's fellow coworkers will comment on the competitor's product, for example, but they don't go trashing it in front of customers.  That's just dumb.

 

 

Edited by SparklyUnicorn
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That’s the kind of bad marketing that I call out. It doesn’t matter what other curriculum you’ve used. What matters is what they have to offer. I tend to think that it is only people who don’t have confidence in their own product who have the need to tear others down.

 

 

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he sounds like he has his own insecurity issues.   probably about many areas - not just curriculum.

 

 

eta: I've had a few times salesmen have trashed the competitor while trying to get me to purchase their product.  what it tells me is i do NOT want what they are selling.

Edited by gardenmom5
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