Update on Great Books Academy

June 23, 2004

 

Dear Members, Colleagues and Friends,
 

I am pleased to announce that we have continued our rapid growth this year.
 
We now have approximately 3,000 students using our curriculum in all 50 states and 25 foreign countries. The countries include: Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Dubai, Egypt, France, Germany, Guam, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tahiti, and the United Kingdom.
 
Western Civilization seems to have universal appeal as students from many religions have become Academy students: nearly all Protestant denominations, Catholics, Mormons, Jews, Muslims, Ba'hai, Buddhists, and non-believers. They enroll in our programs to study the ancient Greek discoveries of first principles and self-evident foundational truths, that are universally applicable and helpful to every personšs search for wisdom.
 
The on-line Great Books Discussion classes went very well again this year. Students and moderators have participated on-line from the US, UK, Canada, Poland and Egypt. Classes start again this fall for grades 3-12. Below is a sample of one of the many comments about these optional, weekly or biweekly classes.
 
Cordially,
 
Max Weismann, Chairman
The Great Books Academy

Some testimonials from Parents and Students:

The Socratic Discussions are FANTASTIC!! My son has done them for the past 4 years and will be starting the high school program in the fall. Steve Bertucci who is the primary moderator of the grade 3-8 discussions is really great with the kids. I really feel like he gives them a lot to think about and helps my son get a wider viewpoint than he was among our little home-school group - or in our school system. These are kids from all over the world with a wide variety of backgrounds and beliefs. Very cool! --Y.K.

After discovering your program, I was very excited, hoping it was everything it claimed to be, but I really couldn't tell for sure until I had the materials in my hands to look over carefully. Well, let me just tell you that your materials exceed my greatest expectations! The Philosophy program if fantastic, and science is unbelievably wonderful! It's more than I ever hoped to be able to find. I was trying to make up a curriculum this good all by myself by collecting a variety of materials and using the best parts of each. It was just too complicated, especially considering I have four children to attend to at different ages and grade levels. It's so wonderful to know that my best efforts could never have brought me a program this thorough and matching to my standards this exactly, so by signing up my son with your program not only do I gain a superior curriculum, but I get the support gained from the lesson plans (a huge plus!) and all the other services you provide. I am ecstatic! I can relax knowing my kids are getting a truly fabulous curriculum and I don't have to pull it all together and plan it out all by myself. K.M.

GBA really is the Rolls Royce of homeschooling programs. Kind regards, A.M.



Just wanted to drop you a quick note and thank you for all the time you have put into getting me just the books I need. As I've told you before, it is this personal attention and consideration that keeps me loyal. I enthusiastically recommend GBA to all my homeschooling friends and associates. Your materials are always of the first caliber and so is your service. Thanks. Sarah Holt

My children are enrolled in Great Books through the CPDLF charter school in Altoona, PA. I am very pleased with all the curriculum I have received thus far. Altoona, PA



"We started school on Monday, the 19th as planned. I know it's early yet, but we sure are finding the curriculum refreshing. The Harcourt Science is quite a program. We plan on using many of the online enrichment ideas.

The Developmental Math is very different from what we were using. Not so colorful, but Jade is excelling at it.

Both of us love Vocabulit. I think it's a great the way it integrates vocabulary, spelling, and reading. Just what I was looking for.

Shurley Grammar is very scripted and all encompassing. It will take some getting used to, but I feel confident we will accomplish a great deal this year.

I am sure this is more information than you wanted or needed to know. I just want you (GBA) to know that we are ever so pleased with our materials. Thank you for everything. Thank you, Linda

We are getting excited for next year!  We've heard that GBA will be offered by the cyber charter school here in PA.  So our kids can use the program at no cost to our family (besides the fact that we pay taxes) plus he will have a computer and printer and Internet hookup. If ANY of you know families in Pennsylvania spread the word.  OR if there are cyber charter schools in your state encourage them to adopt GBA as an option.  This cyber charter in PA hasn't officially started to enroll students nor have they had any press YET through word of mouth they have 23 students waiting to sign up to use GBA.  I'm so excited for the kids! Gwen




I just wanted to drop a line to say 'Thank You' to the GBA family. I have spoken or e-mailed all of you once or several times and I've got to say that every single one of you has been very helpful and understanding. It is so refreshing and comforting to be able to call and get a real, live person on the other line. So, simply put - THANK YOU, GBA!  Jane Forgey




After discovering your program, I was very excited, hoping it was everything it claimed to be, but I really couldn't tell for sure until I had the materials in my hands to look over carefully.  Well, let me just tell you that your materials exceed my greatest expectations!

The Philosophy program is fantastic, and Harcourt Science is unbelievably wonderful! It's more than I ever hoped to be able to find.  I was trying to make up a curriculum this good all by myself by collecting a variety of materials and using the best parts of each. It was just too complicated, especially considering I have four children to attend to at different ages and grade levels. 

It's so wonderful to know that my best efforts could never have brought me a program this thorough and matching to my standards this exactly, so by signing up my son with your program not only do I gain a superior curriculum, but I get the support gained from the lesson plans (a huge plus!) and all the other services you provide.  I am ecstatic!  I can relax knowing my kids are getting a truly fabulous curriculum and I don't have to pull it all together and plan it out all by myself.

I am really looking forward to beginning to use your courses this year. I am so pleased with the flexibility you offer to parents and your selection and recommendations of what you have found to be the finest teaching materials. I have not enrolled in any particular home-school program in the past because I was not able to use materials I already owned or particularly liked I want to enroll her in a classical program where I will ultimately make the decisions in her education, but where she will have accountability outside the home and where she can receive a diploma.

By the way, that science text is excellent!!  It is the most perfect textbook I have ever found for my autistic son.  It relates the part to the whole nicely, is completely logical in progression within the book and between the grades, and provides perfect presentation using experiments first and then the information. I have also heard raves from special needs parents about Shurley Grammar.

I really like the science books as a guide to make sure I am covering all areas and they have lots of good hands on experiments...The Good Books are (no pun intended) great!  The children love listening to them and I love reading them.  They are excellent for CM narration and really help improve vocabulary... To sum it up, I would have to say that the math and science curriculums are good and rigorous. The literature is really nice.  Shurley grammar has proven to be very enjoyable...
 



"our science curriculum is excellent. I really like it...
 

I love what you are doing. Thank you for the great and rich curriculum.  Lisa Manley