By Delbert McClinton
(Fort Worth, Texas)
Visitor Review:
The lessons are inconsistent. One day there is way too much covering 8 different topic areas: geog, math, computer, etc. taking way too long. Another day there is way to little; 4 lessons vs 8. Math has been rated as deficient by cooperating public schools and it has been necessary to compliment the Calvert math with additional assignments from the public school. This creates a significant burden for the student as the school is attempting to pass state requirements which Calvert is remiss at the same time as conducting the Calvert math program. The support is surprising completely political at the Admin level and of little help. The teachers and response to questions are very good. Science is rather poor and the experiments are nonsensical. The stress is a religious orientation with words like accommodation, adaption and NEVER evolution, because Calvert according to their main spokeswoman has many ‘devout’ parents–(that has nothing to do with education but with mythology). Animals do not accommodate-they do not put a coat on when it is cold. Insects do not adapt, but die when it gets too cold. Spelling is good along with compositional aspects. Grammar and phonics are good. A rather very poorly balanced curriculum and program. Many lessons in math are poorly constructed. Use of stupid items likes stem and leaves add nothing, but force the student to learn a technique vs. the content. Reading questions need to be redone to stress comprehension rather than memory of items. Comprehensions is the focus of state testing. Look around before signing up for Calvert.
