Paul Ramirez
First, let’s talk about textbooks.
We don’t want students to have to buy expensive math textbooks in order to complete these courses. We want to stay as close to “free” as possible!
Second, we also don’t want to risk violating U.S. copyright laws by using existing math textbooks in a way that the publishers and textbook authors don’t approve of. In the event that we do find a textbook that is worth reaching out to the publisher or author (whoever holds the copyright) to get permission to use their material for any of our courses, we will do that. Otherwise, no.
For both of these reasons, the math courses in this curriculum will, as a rule, make use of free PDFs of math texts that are in the public domain, meaning no copyright restrictions. (Just like the King James Version of the Bible — the only translation that anybody can print, publish and sell if they wish, without having to get permission.)
With that being said,…
Which Public-Domain Math Textbooks WILL We Be Using?
This important matter took quite a bit of looking into before finally settling on one that met our criteria.
Why is that?
Well, for one thing, there aren’t that many math textbooks out there which have not been published under current copyright laws and available in print, new or used, online and offline.
For another thing, there aren’t that many math textbooks which are out of copyright AND available for free as a PDF for downloading and printing on demand.
Add to this the fact that of these public domain math texts, very few are well-written, well-composed and actually “effective” at teaching math to students at all grade levels.
One proof that this is the case is that the texts were well-received and widely used by educators, parents and students during the time they were in use and in print.
Add all of these up and it makes for mighty slim pickin’s!
Thankfully, the free market has helped us to make our decision.
I found only one set of math textbooks out there that meets all of the above criteria. These math texts in their day went through multiple editions across many decades and were widely used across the country in schools, academies and in private homes, by countless numbers of students, teachers and parents.
Which math textbooks am I talking about?
These…
Ray’s Arithmetics
They were the most popular and most widely published textbooks ever produced in U.S. history–on any subject.
In 2014, I started a website dedicated to offering free videos and the free PDFs for Ray’s Arithmetics. Click here to visit that site:
https://raysarithmetic.wordpress.com/
Ray’s Arithmetics were also used as the basis for many of the math courses created for the online K-12 home-school curriculum, the Ron Paul Curriculum. I used Ray’s Primary Arithmetic and Ray’s Intellectual Arithmetic to develop my early math courses for grades 1-4 at the RPC.
You can view these math courses at the Ron Paul Curriculum by clicking here:
https://www.ronpaulcurriculum.com/?affID=42360
By the way, this is one of my affiliate links to the RPC. I would be OVERJOYED and grateful if you would please use this link and share it with anybody you know who might be looking for an economical yet rigorous, top-notch, online homeschooling program, K-12.
First Things First
In any case, the first mathematics course that I am developing for this Free Christian Curriculum is Beginning Algebra/Algebra I. For that course, I am using Ray’s Algebra, Part First.
You can click below to view a PDF of Ray’s Algebra, Part First:
Thankfully, all of the Ray’s Arithmetics have come back into use and into print in recent decades. This includes Ray’s Algebra. These one-of-a-kind texts are finding a new and vibrant market among home-schoolers in the 21st century!
If you like, you can buy a hard copy, paperback edition of Ray’s Algebra, Part First. But that’s not necessary for this course.
https://www.amazon.com/Rays-Algebra-Part-First-Instruction/dp/1018719075/
I recommend printing out the pages yourself from the PDF. For one thing, they are easier to read when printed out on 8.5 x 11 in. sheets of paper.
One major benefit of using the Ray’s Arithmetic and Ray’s Algebra textbooks is that they lend themselves to self-study at home, as well as use in the classroom. That is how they were designed. Each volume serves as both a student’s and a teacher’s edition.
I will be posting a syllabus for the Beginning Algebra (Algebra 1) course. Stay tuned.
In the meantime, you can start reading and working through the “Intellectual Exercises” that are found at the beginning of the book.
Read Chapter 1: “Preliminary Definitions and Principles”. This will help you to be mentally prepared and ready to begin THINKING ALGEBRAICALLY!
One More Thing…
Lest we forget, the reason we are able to think mathematically in the first place is because our Creator, the LORD God, made us to think His thoughts after Him. He designed His creation to be analyzed and understood and perceived mathematically as part of fulfilling our responsibilities as stewards because that is one aspect of His infallible thinking that He has condescended to share with His fallible creatures who are made in His image.
Free Christian Curriculum 