is curriculum evil?

Um. No, folks, curriculum is not evil.
Most curriculum isn't even bad.

Some is super bad, and, in fact, inherently evil and heretical, but I'll not rant on that today.  The idea of curriculum is to provide structure and content for a particular subject or subjects to be studied.  

That is a good thing.

Study should have structure, and, by all means, there should be a little content.

My point is not to make a persuasive argument for the goodness or badness of curriculum in general, or any particular curricula.  My point is simply that, most of the time, and in particular for small children, that curriculum isn't necessary. For some people, it can even be an impediment.  Sometimes that is true for the child, and sometimes it is a clear impediment for the mother/teacher.

If you use curriculum, you can't let it own you.  Use it as a resource, but by all means, feel free to use it and not let it use you.  Show your curriculum who's boss.

Who is to be master, that's all.

For part one of this series, Homeschool Simplified, click here.
For part two, click here.