This is going to be just a quick overview of what the curriculum agents look for when they are trying to find books that will fit into our schools. This list comes from the Approved Textbook List (affectionately called ATL by those that use it). The curriculum board puts one of these out every year with all the books that they feel are good and safe for us to be using.

I had continued education in curriculum when we were put in as curriculum agent for our school. The curriculum agent is a big job, but an even bigger job is what the conference curriculum agents do. They scour the home school and curriculum sites looking for options for us. The books need to be fitting for our children. No child evangelism. No glorifying wars. No courtship. Even the pictures need to comply with how we believe. No LGBTQ agenda hidden in the text. No stories in the readers with unmarried parents or, worse yet, parents of the same sex. And here I thought I had a right to complain about the curriculum? This isn’t to say you can never bring concerns to your school board. I do believe that some curricula works better at some schools than others. There is a time to change, but that is usually evaluted for awhile before an actual change is made. You can’t just change a school over to a different curriculum. It works much better to follow the first grade as they move up through the grades.

Just for interest sake, here is a list of what the conference school curriculum committee looks for when they are considering a new curriculum for our schools. The next time you read a book, check for all of these things in it. Then look at the many books that are in our Approved Textbook List and keep in mind that all of those books have been sifted through looking for all of these points. All of the books in the ATL are read at least twice by different brethren, to be sure that the books are sound educationally and safe spiritually. It’s work to find book that will fit in our schools!

Educational Value

Is the textbook based on valid educational principles? Does its reading and comprehension level and the way it is presented match the age for which it is intended Does it develop learning skills such as logic and inference?

Character, Spiritual and moral values

1) Does the textbook have a neutral approach rather than interpreting social issues and history from a particular standpoint?

Desirable Characteristics:

• Developing a respect for other people and customs
• Wholesome literary value and reading interest

Objectionable characteristics:

• A political viewpoint opposed to our non-participatory stand, including any teaching that contradicts our non- resistant principles
• Glorification of the patriotic and religious values of figures in the history of our countries
• Adulating sports and entertainment heroes
• Humanism
• Modern social thought that undermines the foundation of the home
• Teaching and condoning civil disobedience

2) Is there an over-emphasis of worldly practices? Mere mention of an objectionable practice may not be reason for rejection.

Examples:

• Vices
• Musical instruments
• Ridiculous and overly foolish stories, and fables
• Television, movies, sports, and other entertainments
• Worldly observations of holidays such as Christmas and Easter
• Graphic depiction of unwholesome attitudes and behavior between male and female characters

3) We sometimes accept textbooks from other religious publishers, liberal or conservative. Do they have misleading doctrines, such as:

• The teaching of evolution
• Predating
• Millennium, etc
• Making innocent children accountable to God
• Teachings that confuse or challenge the doctrine of the church

Simplicity and Economy

1) Is this course economically feasible?

2) Are the educational requirements consistent with Conference concerns regarding simplicity in education and technology.

The Conference Curriculum Committee has a huge job and the way we can help is by accepting the options they have and be happy to study the books and do the best we can.

What are your experiences with curriculum? I would love to hear what you have to say or questions you may have. -Eva