I purchased the K level materials because I wanted a home school curriculum which was mum with regard to religion and taught unfiltered science without politics. Looking at some of the materials down the line I can't help but wonder if any of this material is inspired by postmodernist concepts, literary theory, or philosophies which are compatible with critical race theory? Are any BLM curriculum or 1619 project concepts or materials included in the material? There are things which are worse than religion.

I know there is a common spin that literally speaking critical race theory is a legal concept not taught outside advanced and specialized university curriculum but this is a gross misrepresentation as seen here. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Search:critical%20race%20theory# I want to be absolutely certain my child will not be exposed to educational materials which look at the world through a lens of segregation into group membership with group identity.

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Hi Michael,

Thanks for reaching out to us with your question about Critical Race Theory. The answer is really quite simple. We empower families to make their own choices regarding how to address current political ideas into their children's education.

Moving Beyond the Page is not a politically motivated organization, and we don't have any agenda beyond providing the best education possible. Our curriculum is neither conservative nor liberal, and it is not a platform for the promotion of any current political or controversial ideas.

If you have additional questions or concerns, please let us know.

Keith

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Thank you for your thoughtful response. I myself have also been wondering this. This is our first year homeschooling and our first time using this curriculum and so far we have had a wonderful experience with it. I have found that it has given us lots of opportunities for discussion about our beliefs and family values, and I appreciate the way the curriculum leaves this open for discussion.

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Hi Michael. Thanks for this question. I too want to have my children far away from CRT.. I know you purchased K level. Can you be specific as to what level or subject concerned you? I just purchased science for 11-13.

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Hi Sarah, I didn't get the idea that Michael was basing his comments on any specific observations. It seemed like more of a general question about how Moving Beyond the Page addresses issues such as racism and group identity. If you have any specific questions, just let us know.

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Thank you for asking this important question. I was curious too and glad to find out that MBTP is not politically based.

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For those concerned about this issue, so called anti-racism, project 1619 materials, etc. I would like to say that so far I have not seen anything overtly along those lines up to the age 5-7 content. But I have seen what I believe to be partisan/socialist grooming material. So I would caution parents to be vigilant because I think you will be hard pressed to find materials which don't contain ANY of this. It hasn't been difficult to work around and may not be intentional.

I've seen some things which were upsetting in the environment and community units which imply that children would be bad people if they didn't cooperate/agree with social structures or focus on the environment. My child is working on 'wants and needs' today and the material is incorrectly identifying clothing, education, medical care and 'love/caring' as needs... needs are universally recognized as food, water, shelter and the oft omitted air. Those other items are certainly nice to have but are wants, not needs.

Programming children to believe something like education and medical care are needs combined with teaching them that a 'good person' is one who works through social/community institutions and structures is certainly controversial in my opinion. That is a recipe for looking toward authoritarianism sold with social need justifications in a capitalist nation where we most highly value individual liberty.

I do not think it is appropriate for educational materials to be making qualitative judgements about people and their behaviors at all. A potentially contrary voice in my home indicating to my child what does or does not make someone a 'good person' isn't needed. Skills instruction in mathematics, language and physical sciences is what I'm here for.

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It's too bad we have to review absolutely everything before handing it over to our children.

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Hi Michael,

I appreciate your comments. At Moving Beyond the Page, we remain stridently non-partisan in our curriculum. Our goal is to empower you as parents to train your own children as you see fit. It is our hope that when controversial topics arise in a lesson, that you will take time to discuss your families viewpoint with your children. We have heard from so many parents across the political and religious spectrum that have pointed out the amazing dinner time conversations that Moving Beyond the Page has spurred in their household. I hope it is the same for you.

I would also like to just touch briefly on the idea that our curriculum is engaged in "partisan/socialist grooming" related to the definition of wants and needs. Intelligent people can disagree about whether things like healthcare should be defined as a need or not, but our curriculum remains agnostic about the governments role in providing it. We leave that discussion up to you. You can have a need for healthcare, and a want for people to pay for it themselves, or a want that the government help out with the cost. It is an important issue, but we don't take a side. I hope that makes sense.

On a more humorous note, with November fast approaching, I think you should reconsider your stance that clothing is not a need. It's getting cold out there! :-)

Warmly,

Keith

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When choosing any curriculum, it is up to us "the parents" to review and change what we need based on our own morals and values. As Jehovah's Witnesses we do not celebrate most calendar holidays. We have our own traditions and holidays. I review ALL material in workbooks and parent manuals before teaching it then make changes as needed. So, when it came to Community 6-8 Concept 1 Unit 1 Lesson 8, we did not do the Holiday book. We still learned about what cultures celebrate which holidays, their origins, and how they are celebrated in the modern world, as well as how government holidays effect all its citizens lives and schedules, but there was no need for us to make a book on holidays that we did not celebrate. It was more important that we learned why people celebrate holidays and that different people have different beliefs. We copied the blank Holiday pages and made our own book. I absolutely see the benefit of implementing this in your curriculum as we are outliers in this specific subject. Hence, why you have multiple options that allow advanced students to test their skills and or provide the ability to modify subjects. I find your curriculum to be fairly politically neutral and secular. Thank you for providing a well-rounded and "modify friendly" curriculum.

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Thanks for the positive and kind words, Sara. We make a strong effort to be a curriculum that all families feel comfortable using. We want to empower families to do what works best for them. Happy Homeschooling!

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great

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