North outlines the four goals that he and Paul agreed upon for this curriculum. The following are direct quotes.
It should teach the Biblical principle of self-government and personal responsibility, which is also the foundation of the free market economy.
It should be based on a detailed study of the history of liberty as well as liberty's rivals, in Western civilization and the United States.
It should provide a thorough understanding of Austrian school economics.
It should be an academically rigorous curriculum that is tied to primary source documents — not textbooks. Textbooks are screened by committees. They dumb down the material.
If your child completes the entire curriculum — which runs from K through 12 — here is what he or she should be able to do, again quoting.
Speak in public and speak confidently
Write effectively
Run a website
Operate a YouTube channel
Understand mathematics
Understand basic science
Start a home business
Defend the free market system intellectually
Understand the history of Western civilization
Understand American history
Understand the U.S. Constitution and how it has been hijacked
Understand the interaction between literature and historical development
Understand Christianity's influence in the West
Understand Austrian-school economics
That's the order in which North presents the outcomes, but it's not clear whether or not it represents the order of importance. Regardless, your now-five-year-old should, by the year 2026, be able to operate a YouTube channel.
Let's get down to brass tacks. Echoing the business model of other addictive substances, the Ron Paul Curriculum provides grades K through 5 for free. After that, you have to pay — $250 a year. The curriculum tools are a combination of PDFs and YouTube videos, with proscribed periods for testing and writing assignments. Or, they will be. The site is a bit light on content right now.
The kindergarten course, for example, is slated for completion in September. Its author, Cheryl Page, hints that it "will show mothers the basics of teaching phonics. It will be video-based, with instructions for the mothers on how to teach every aspect of basic phonics to their child." Mother not included.
The rest of the free curricula — first through fifth grades — are incomplete, but North offers other outlets for home-schooling. "Why should I promote a rival product?" he asks. "Because this site is not complete."
North does provide a (for pay) course in high school preparation, including:
STUDY TECHNIQUES. Lesson #3: Your Home Office
STUDY TECHNIQUES. Lesson #4: Follow Instructions
HOW TO WRITE. Lesson #11: The Book Review ("This is a crucial skill. Learn it early."
