moonlight Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 can we please start a secular curriculum thread. i have in recent history bought stuff that have a christian slant...and i bought a spanish curriculum that was completely christian. it just didn't occur to me to think about that in a foreign language curriculum...i'm especially looking for history, science, spanish and latin.....but i think people might enjoy a comprehensive list. Â thanks, seema Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 It might help you to use a tag search. I tag everything and remember these threads. There are others in addition to the tags that I have added to this thread. Here is a thread that came up. Â Which Latin programs are secular? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa B Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Galore Park is my favorite secular publisher and we use their books for science, history, English and French. They also have Latin and Spanish. I also really like Singapore math. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ondreeuh Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 (edited) A not-inclusive, not-universally agreed as being secular list. I added the most popular textbook sources, but anything published by Holt, Glencoe, Pearson, etc. is going to be secular. EPS (Educator's Publishing Service), MCP (Modern Curriculum Press), Spectrum, EduTech, Evan-Moor, Carson-Dellosa publish for the secular market as well.  I have linked to the publisher's website when possible. Always check places like Homeschool Buyer's Co-Op, Amazon, Rainbow, etc. for good deals.  This is part 1. Part 2 is here.  Unit Study/All-in-One Intellego Five in a Row (note: 1 book in Before FIAR is Christian, and Bible is included in book 4) Oak Meadow Calvert K12 Moving Beyond the Page Connect the Thoughts Core Knowledge (free downloads here) Time4Learning (online) Critical Thinking Company (math, LA, logic)  Preschool Preschool Plus (Hewitt) - a religious publisher, but Bible is separate Before Five in a Row (leave out If Jesus Came to My House) Little Acorn Learning (Waldorfy) Time4Learning Preschool Letter of the Week Peak with Books  History - Complete Book of United States History History Odyssey (Pandia Press) History of US (Hakim) - can be used with Hewitt's Junior High Syllabus and Tests Oak Meadow History at Our House Intellego Unit Studies Story of the World (Peace Hill Press) The Drama of American History (out of print) World History for Us All Mosaic (free)  Geography Down to Earth Geography Trail Guide to World Geography  History Supplements/Resources: Classical Explorations notebooks & maps Classical House of Learning (literature program to supplement history) The Story of the U.S.A. (EPS) A Little History of the World (Gombrich) A People's History of the United States (Zinn) A Young People's History of the United States (Zinn) Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong (Loewen)  Science - Singapore Science programs (including My Pals Are Here and Interactive) Elemental Science Real Science Odyssey (Pandia Press) Mr. Q Science Logic Oak Meadow The Elements by Ellen McHenry with the exception of carbon chemistry CPO science (free book downloads here) Middle School Chemistry (American Chemical Society- FREE download) Inquiry in Action for Grades 3-6 (American Chemical Society - FREE download) Building Foundations for Scientific Understanding NOEO Awakening Wonder 7th grade physical science P.L.A.T.O science Galore Park Intellego Unit Studies Nancy Larson Science GEMS Science AIMS Science Story of Science (Hakim) -with some explanation Prentice Hall Science Explorer Real Science 4 Kids with caveats (reference to some things being "designed", author supports ID) McRuffy Science  Math Saxon Math Mammoth Singapore Math MEP (free to download) Miquon Russian Math (Perpendicular Press) Zaccaro math books (includes Challenge Math) Art of Problem Solving Life of Fred (the characters are Christian) Right Start McRuffy Math (secular as far as I can see) Math-U-See (mild Christian content) Sadlier-Oxford Math Teaching Textbooks Thinkwell Kinetic Books Key Curriculum Press (includes Keys to ...) Math Textbooks by Harold Jacobs and Margaret Lial  ETA - I've edited the list many times - keep the suggestions/feedback coming. Edited March 16, 2011 by ondreeuh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satori Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 (edited) Elementary Spanish is the spanish program we use after we discovered that the first spanish program we used was more religious than we thought. Anything by Pandia Press (History Odyssey and R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey) are secular. Though History Odyssey does use SOTW and we think SOTW is secular enough for us, some families do not. Singapore Math and Science are secular. The secular Latin we'll be using soon is Lively Latin. I've seen references to God or other religious references in First Language Lessons, Song School Latin, FIAR and Before FIAR, but we still use or have used them. Â I'm extremely picky about what I consider to be secular and would not list some of the above in that list, but they should be okay for most families not so picky. Â Otherwise, check the list on my blog for Secular Homeschooling Resources. I've listed some of the most popular secular resources (left the obscure ones out), along with links. The programs are in alphabetical order. Having it out there on the web will help people for Internet searches that don't belong to WTM. Edited March 12, 2011 by Satori Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WVNA Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Science - Singapore My Pals Are Here (and their others) Elemental Science Real Science Odyssey Real Science 4 Kids Mr. Q Oak Meadow   I just wanted to point out that the author of Real Science 4 Kids, Rebecca Keller, believes in creation/intelligent design (http://www.discovery.org/articleFiles/PDFs/100ScientistsAd.pdf). I have looked at her pre-level 1 and level 1 chemistry books and they seem to be balanced. I haven't looked at her biology or astronomy books, but in my opinion, her belief in intelligent design means I won't even consider using them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Honestly, stuff that is marketed to schools is probably the best bet for secular history. Science is getting a little easier as their is more a clear market for secular science. The K-12 Human Odyssey text has more religious material in it than SOTW and has things written in a comparable manner. I like them both. I would caution against using Gombrich. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ondreeuh Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 (edited) I just wanted to point out that the author of Real Science 4 Kids, Rebecca Keller, believes in creation/intelligent design (http://www.discovery.org/articleFiles/PDFs/100ScientistsAd.pdf). I have looked at her pre-level 1 and level 1 chemistry books and they seem to be balanced. I haven't looked at her biology or astronomy books, but in my opinion, her belief in intelligent design means I won't even consider using them. Â That is your choice, but "secular" does not mean "anti-evolution." [ETA: typo - I meant "anti-creationist.] Secular means not religious, or religiously inclusive. Whether you want to avoid a publisher because of their own personal beliefs is your prerogative, but just because RS4K is written by a person who believes in creation that does not make it non-secular. Edited March 11, 2011 by ondreeuh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 First Language Lessons and Writing With Ease. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halcyon Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Galore Park is my favorite secular publisher and we use their books for science, history, English and French. They also have Latin and Spanish. I also really like Singapore math. Â which galore park science do you use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa B Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 which galore park science do you use? Â My dd 11 is currently working through So You Really Want to Learn Science 1. Â My younger two will work through all five books (Jr. Science 1-3 and SYRWTL Science 1-2.) Dd 7 will begin Jr. Science 1 in the fall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChandlerMom Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 I just wanted to point out that the author of Real Science 4 Kids, Rebecca Keller, believes in creation/intelligent design (http://www.discovery.org/articleFiles/PDFs/100ScientistsAd.pdf). I have looked at her pre-level 1 and level 1 chemistry books and they seem to be balanced. I haven't looked at her biology or astronomy books, but in my opinion, her belief in intelligent design means I won't even consider using them. Â :iagree: Â Although I respect a person's right to their own opinions, and would not think twice about buying many curricula from a creationist, I would not buy a science curriculum from someone who believed YE or ID (esp not ID, since it is religion pretending to be science which is offensive to me). It does speak to their ability to teach geology or biology. Similarly I would not buy a history curriculum from a holocaust denier, even if that history did not cover WW2. Â Not everyone will feel the same way, but I appreciate the PP pointing this out about this curriculum so we can all make our own decision about how much it might influence their ability to teach the subject secularly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 (edited) That is your choice, but "secular" does not mean "anti-evolution." [ETA: typo - I meant "anti-creationist.] Secular means not religious, or religiously inclusive. Whether you want to avoid a publisher because of their own personal beliefs is your prerogative, but just because RS4K is written by a person who believes in creation that does not make it non-secular.Except that one would expect a secular science program to include content on evolution, especially beyond 4th grade. Her books do not. ETA: Everything that can be said has probably been said in this old thread. I am no longer comfortable buying RS4K Edited March 11, 2011 by nmoira Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amey311 Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Math-U-See isn't completely secular. There are mentions of Sunday school, or missions or something in some of the word problems. I can go thru the books and dig up examples if you want. Â They do have a stewardship book, too, that covers personal finance and consumer math that is definitely Christian (it says so in the description) and includes a devotional. Â We use it (and we use secular everything else) because it's a math system that works for my kids, and those minor mentions in word problems are fine with us. It's not like "Janie needs to say 15 prayers by Sunday or she'll go to hell. She's said 3, so how many more does she need to say to avoid ****ation" or something. That example is crazy over the top. Â I don't think I can remember him mentioning God in the videos, either. HIs things are used in Public schools (there's a graphic about it being used in the Albuquerque school district), so I'm guessing it's pretty secular. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ondreeuh Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Math-U-See isn't completely secular. There are mentions of Sunday school, or missions or something in some of the word problems. I can go thru the books and dig up examples if you want. Â They do have a stewardship book, too, that covers personal finance and consumer math that is definitely Christian (it says so in the description) and includes a devotional. Â We use it (and we use secular everything else) because it's a math system that works for my kids, and those minor mentions in word problems are fine with us. It's not like "Janie needs to say 15 prayers by Sunday or she'll go to hell. She's said 3, so how many more does she need to say to avoid ****ation" or something. That example is crazy over the top. Â I don't think I can remember him mentioning God in the videos, either. HIs things are used in Public schools (there's a graphic about it being used in the Albuquerque school district), so I'm guessing it's pretty secular. Â I made a note of it on the list. I wonder if there is a different version for public schools? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ondreeuh Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Except that one would expect a secular science program to include content on evolution, especially beyond 4th grade. Her books do not. Â That's a matter of semantics. In my opinion, as long as the program does not promote a Christian (or other religious) interpretation, it is secular. I can add in my own evolution content without contradicting the program, just as Christians can. It is inclusive. Secular does not mean "evolutionist" or "atheist." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Â That's a matter of semantics. In my opinion, as long as the program does not promote a Christian (or other religious) interpretation, it is secular. I can add in my own evolution content without contradicting the program, just as Christians can. It is inclusive. Secular does not mean "evolutionist" or "atheist."I could write a program that didn't mention "millions/billions of years" or evolution and not mention a creator. It may or may not be technically secular, but it's certainly not what I'd consider to be a robust program. While not as critical for a K6 program, the sheer amount of cross disciplinary evidence for evolution makes it a problematic subject to skirt. Unfortunately, that's just what's often done, even in supposedly secular materials meant for public schools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mammaofbean Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 wow! i must be exceptionally picky- i wouldn't never call "intelligent design" secular. it is an idea based on a religious text. it is a theological belief. a text doesn't have to say "come join my church or be ****ed!" for me to consider it religious. if a curriculum never mentions a deity but claims moses parted the red sea, bodies can reanimate after being dead so long they begin to develop an odor, or a human egg can be fertilized without sperm it would not pass through my secular radar. and possibly i could write off a geology text that never menitions the age of rocks or the earth as just really incomplete and poorly written, but not if i knew the author was a proponent of intelligent design. Â the inclusion or exclusion of evolution is not a matter of semantics unless it is included using some other terminology. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brasilmom Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Thank you for starting this thread. I am in the process of acquiring our curriculum for 1st grade, and the biggest concern here is to use secular material. This thread will give me some places to look for items and ponder over them. Thanks again. Be well Miriam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ondreeuh Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 wow! i must be exceptionally picky- i wouldn't never call "intelligent design" secular. it is an idea based on a religious text. it is a theological belief. a text doesn't have to say "come join my church or be ****ed!" for me to consider it religious. if a curriculum never mentions a deity but claims moses parted the red sea, bodies can reanimate after being dead so long they begin to develop an odor, or a human egg can be fertilized without sperm it would not pass through my secular radar. and possibly i could write off a geology text that never menitions the age of rocks or the earth as just really incomplete and poorly written, but not if i knew the author was a proponent of intelligent design. the inclusion or exclusion of evolution is not a matter of semantics unless it is included using some other terminology.  Who said intelligent design was secular? I think you've misunderstood. Some people are taking issue with the fact that the author of RS4K herself believes in creation/ID. No one has said that ID is present in her science curriculum. She does not discuss the origin of life at all, as far as I know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 RS4K is "designed" to undermine children's acceptance of the Theory of Evolution and is part of the author's mission to win them to Christianity. She was "caught out" saying such on her forum. Â Use your own judgment if this is "secular." Â Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Life of FredThese books are not secular. Nope. We love LOF, and use it, but the characters are all Christian, go to church/Sunday school, muse about bits from the Bible, think about heaven, read religious books, etc. However, with one (IMHO) exception it doesn't proselytise. It's right at the very edge of my comfort level. The least Christian content is in the first two books (Fractions and Decimals & Percents), so if these are all you've seen, I'd undertand why you might consider them to be secular. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Some we've used or have:  Right Start Math Singapore Math Mathematics 6 (Perpendicular Press) MEP Miquon Art of Problem Solving Zaccaro Math books -- Challenge Math, etc.  History Odyssey  Phonics Pathways Megawords Sequential Spelling  MCT Langauge Arts program  My Pals Are Here Science Galore Park Science Singapore Interactive Science (I like these more than Galore Park) PLATO Science online R.E.A.L. Science  Latin Prep So You Really Want to Learn Spanish Cambridge Latin Lively Latin Learnables Spanish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ondreeuh Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 I understand what you are saying. If you want a science program that explicitly teaches evolution, then a neutral program won't fit your criteria - I get that. However, when someone comes here asking for secular resources, they are not necessarily wanting to teach evolution. Plenty of religious and/or YEC people on this forum and elsewhere consciously choose secular/neutral programs because they want to teach their own beliefs. They are looking for something neutral that does not take a stand. Â Maybe you'd like to make a list of evolutionst science programs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ondreeuh Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 RS4K is "designed" to undermine children's acceptance of the Theory of Evolution and is part of the author's mission to win them to Christianity. She was "caught out" saying such on her forum. Use your own judgment if this is "secular."  Bill  I know she said something about "planting seeds," but consider her audience and the fact that she has to market her own product. If the actual content within her program does not undermine evolution, then I don't care what her personal beliefs are.  You have a right to choose not to support the business, but unless you can find evidence that the content of her science program is undermining evolution, I don't see how you can call the content non-secular. Just as you wouldn't call a math program without any religious content non-secular because the author is a Christian.  I'm a big believer in doing what works for you, and I find this debate pretty aggressive and icky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 I understand what you are saying. If you want a science program that explicitly teaches evolution, then a neutral program won't fit your criteria - I get that. However, when someone comes here asking for secular resources, they are not necessarily wanting to teach evolution. Plenty of religious and/or YEC people on this forum and elsewhere consciously choose secular/neutral programs because they want to teach their own beliefs. They are looking for something neutral that does not take a stand. Â Maybe you'd like to make a list of evolutionst science programs? Â I think you are missing the point. The purpose of the RSF4 is to undermine acceptance of the Theory of Evolution. It goes way beyond a simple omission that lacks a specific "intent." Â Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ondreeuh Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 These books are not secular. Nope. We love LOF, and use it, but the characters are all Christian, go to church/Sunday school, muse about bits from the Bible, think about heaven, read religious books, etc. However, with one (IMHO) exception it doesn't proselytise. It's right at the very edge of my comfort level. The least Christian content is in the first two books (Fractions and Decimals & Percents), so if these are all you've seen, I'd undertand why you might consider them to be secular.  Interesting. This is the first time I've heard there is any ongoing reference to religion. On a secular forum I visit, people who identify as "hard-core atheists" are happy with the books.  Another comfort-level issue. If someone doesn't want their kids to read the words God, heaven, church, etc. then these won't meet their needs. Most secular families wouldn't consider that offensive, though. IMO it falls under my "tolerate & respect other people's beliefs" mandate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 What's the one in LOF about looking for "Truth" in the phone book? Â Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ondreeuh Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 I think you are missing the point. The purpose of the RSF4 is to undermine acceptance of the Theory of Evolution. It goes way beyond a simple omission that lacks a specific "intent." Bill  Can you back that up with examples of content that undermine evolution? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 (edited) What's the one in LOF about looking for "Truth" in the phone book? Bill LOL that's the one that bothers me... though I don't think it's truth.. However, others are able to see it as just a joke. But I don't think anyone who has actually read the books, especially a hard-core atheist, could consider LOF secular. Acceptable or not acceptable depending on comfort level, yes, of course, but not secular. Edited March 12, 2011 by nmoira Clarity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 I know she said something about "planting seeds," but consider her audience and the fact that she has to market her own product. If the actual content within her program does not undermine evolution, then I don't care what her personal beliefs are. You have a right to choose not to support the business, but unless you can find evidence that the content of her science program is undermining evolution, I don't see how you can call the content non-secular. Just as you wouldn't call a math program without any religious content non-secular because the author is a Christian.  I'm a big believer in doing what works for you, and I find this debate pretty aggressive and icky.  I'm sorry you feel that way. I feel stealth-proselytizing is aggressive and icky, so I have a very bad opinion of the author and her secret agenda to "plant seeds"in children's minds. If she reveals her purpose to a group that approves of these means it does not lessen the affront I feel at being "duped."  Fortunately I figured it out before we used these materials.  Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skueppers Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Can you back that up with examples of content that undermine evolution? Â Well, I certainly can't, because I would never consider using her materials. However, I can say that listening to the video currently on the main RS4K site: Â Â Â gives me hives. The other perspectives she refers to are not part of science. They may be interesting and valuable, but they're also anti-scientific. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen500 Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Can you back that up with examples of content that undermine evolution? Â Well, if you page through the Biology 1 book she uses the word 'designed' at least 5 times. "Plants are designed..."etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen500 Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Adding CPO to the science list (middle school). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ondreeuh Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Well, if you page through the Biology 1 book she uses the word 'designed' at least 5 times. "Plants are designed..."etc. Â Thank you- that's the kind of thing I was asking for. I agree, that is not neutral. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsBasil Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 I am pretty sure Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding is secular, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laundrycrisis Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 I understand what you are saying. If you want a science program that explicitly teaches evolution, then a neutral program won't fit your criteria - I get that. However, when someone comes here asking for secular resources, they are not necessarily wanting to teach evolution. Plenty of religious and/or YEC people on this forum and elsewhere consciously choose secular/neutral programs because they want to teach their own beliefs. They are looking for something neutral that does not take a stand. Â Maybe you'd like to make a list of evolutionst science programs? Â For myself, I very much disagree with this. IMO there are three categories......secular, straddling the fence, and religious. If I ask for secular I mean 100% secular, with no fence-straddling in order to be "neutral" or not be objectionable to anyone's religion-based views. I avoid the fence-straddling stuff as much as I avoid the religious stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Â For myself, I very much disagree with this. IMO there are three categories......secular, straddling the fence, and religious. If I ask for secular I mean 100% secular, with no fence-straddling in order to be "neutral" or not be objectionable to anyone's religion-based views. I avoid the fence-straddling stuff as much as I avoid the religious stuff.Straddling dives me nuts because it's a marketing rather than editorial decision, one which inevitably diminishes the material, no matter which side of the fence the buyer is on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Thank you- that's the kind of thing I was asking for. I agree, that is not neutral. Â The also falsely tried to split science into two separate categories. Â One being "facts." Â And the other being how those "facts" are interpreted. Here she suggests that all opinions have more or less equal value. That one can choose to believe in ID and it is just as valid "scientifically" as accepting that the Theory of Evolution is a very well validated scientific theory. Â To say they are in any way "comparable" on a scientific basis is very false. Â Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Â Spelling All About Spelling Megawords Sequential Spelling Apples & Pears spelling . Â Soaring with Spelling and Vocabulary calls itself "neutral", but to me it is "secular". By the same people who do Growing with Grammar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nov05mama Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 LOL that's the one that bothers me... though I don't think it's truth.. However, others are able to see it as just a joke. But I don't think anyone who has actually read the books, especially a hard-core atheist, could consider LOF secular. Acceptable or not acceptable depending on comfort level, yes, of course, but not secular. Can you (or someone) elaborate on the Christian nature of LoF? I was actually interested in this once we finished Singapore, but am disappointed to hear that it has a Christian slant vs. being secular and not bringing up religion at all (not sure why it *needs* to be in a math curriculum in the first place) :( Is it just in the stories that are included with the curriculum or what? TIA! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Â Can you (or someone) elaborate on the Christian nature of LoF? I was actually interested in this once we finished Singapore, but am disappointed to hear that it has a Christian slant vs. being secular and not bringing up religion at all (not sure why it *needs* to be in a math curriculum in the first place :( Is it just in the stories that are included with the curriculum or what? TIA! I'm on my phone right now, which is best for short responses, but will get back to you later if no one else does. Short answer is that this is a story, and Schmidt's characters are Christian. There's no indoctrination or even an assumption the reader is Christian or should be, IFKWIM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ondreeuh Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Thanks - I added it to my list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanceXToo Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Can you (or someone) elaborate on the Christian nature of LoF? I was actually interested in this once we finished Singapore, but am disappointed to hear that it has a Christian slant vs. being secular and not bringing up religion at all (not sure why it *needs* to be in a math curriculum in the first place) :( Is it just in the stories that are included with the curriculum or what? TIA! Â I've only looked through the first two LoF books and as a secular homeschooler who was raised Jewish, not Christian (and who now is not particularly religious), I'm pretty comfortable with the bits of religious references in at least these two books. Â On my blog (see sig), there's a "My Reviews" section on the sidebar to the left, and I did a LoF review where I pointed out the specific examples I found that could be considered to pertain to religion. None of them were a dealbreaker for me personally. Â ondreeuh, Teaching Textbooks is a secular math curriculum if you want to add it to your math section. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommymilkies Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 LoF, too? Oh man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nov05mama Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 I've only looked through the first two LoF books and as a secular homeschooler who was raised Jewish, not Christian (and who now is not particularly religious), I'm pretty comfortable with the bits of religious references in at least these two books. On my blog (see sig), there's a "My Reviews" section on the sidebar to the left, and I did a LoF review where I pointed out the specific examples I found that could be considered to pertain to religion. None of them were a dealbreaker for me personally.  ondreeuh, Teaching Textbooks is a secular math curriculum if you want to add it to your math section. :) Thank you! Your review is extremely helpful!! Seeing those references brings me to the same conclusion as nmoira said "There's no indoctrination or even an assumption the reader is Christian or should be" which was my fear. Whew...can leave it on the list for now :) Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 ondreeuh, thanks for the running list on the first page. That makes things easier. Â How about logic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommymilkies Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 ondreeuh, thanks for the running list on the first page. That makes things easier. Â How about logic? Â Socratic Logic (for the older crowd) does have some religious content and is not from a secular publisher. I've had good luck with MindBenders and Logic Countdown so far, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mammaofbean Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 on pg 45 A History of US vol 1. 1993 edition-  " . . . Their sophisticated culture was flourishing at the time when Christ lived. . . "  this caused me to put this book aside. more information can be found here:  http://www.textbookleague.org/111hakm.htm  There is also blatant presentation of religious stories as historical fact in the first The Story of Science book. I didn't make it past the first one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 The Drama of American History ought to be included as a secular middle-stage US history series. Better than Hakim in any case. Â Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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