FAQs

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WHAT IS “OLD WESTERN CULTURE”?
“Old Western Culture” is a literature curriculum named after a term coined by C.S. Lewis to describe the fabric of ideas that shaped Western Civilization. For centuries, a “Great Books” education lay at the heart of what it meant to be educated. It was the education of the Church Fathers, of the Medieval Church, of the Reformers, and of all the Founding Fathers of the Unites States. It is a CLASSICAL EDUCATION, based on the great books of western civilization. It is a CHRISTIAN EDUCATION, which sees the history and literature of the West through the eyes of the Bible and historic Christianity. It is an INTEGRATED HUMANITIES CURRICULUM, bringing together literature, history, philosophy, doctrine, geography, and art. And it is a HOMESCHOOL oriented curriculum, made by homeschoolers with the needs of homeschooled in mind, including flexibility, affordability, and ease-of-use. We bring a master-teacher into your home, and encourage parents to gain an overview of Western Civilization themselves by watching the video lessons with their children.

HOW DOES OLD WESTERN CULTURE WORK?
Old Western Culture is a video course. It is built around a master teacher, Wes Callihan. With decades of teaching experience, he guides students through the story of Western civilization. Each unit of The Greeks (year 1 of Old Western Culture) contains 12 video lessons (48 in year 1, approx 30 min each).

Each lesson begins with a brief review before jumping into summary, commentary, analysis, and inter-disciplinary connections of the works covered. After each lesson, students complete the assigned readings, and answer comprehension questions in the Student Workbook.

WHAT BOOKS ARE COVERED IN YEAR 1, THE GREEKS?
The Greeks is divided into 4 units:

1. The Epics. Works covered: The Iliad and The Odyssey

2. Drama and Lyric. Works covered: A collection of Greek plays and poetry.

3. The Histories. Works covered: Herodotus, Thucydides, and Xenophon

4. The Philosophers. Works covered: selected readings from Plato and Aristotle.

WHY DO PEOPLE LOVE WES CALLIHAN?
Wes Callihan is a master story teller! With a remarkable ability to communicate a passion for history and literature, he makes profound ideas accessible, relevant, and interesting. Also known for his distinctive “rabbit trailers, “forays into funny and obscure historical anecdotes, which have a way of showing up at the dinner table. (After all, rabbit trails are “hooks for the imagination and memory.”) Wes Callihan is a true classical scholar, fluent in both Latin and Greek. He lectures only from the notes in the margins of his worn copies of the Great Books.

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How do subscriptions differ from streaming products?

Subscriptions differ from their streaming counterparts in how you pay for them. Rather than pay the entire product price on the day of purchase, you pay the recurring monthly charge as advertised. Streaming describes content, and subscription describes the payment method.

How do subscription licenses work?

Subscriptions are licensed to a single family. In other words, use your Homeschool Mega Bundle subscription for all of the children in your household! All 130+ lessons are available to your family members at a single monthly price.

If you are leading a coop or tutorial and plan to use one of our subscription courses, we ask that all participating families purchase a subscription to the course used in the tutorial. If the tutorial is using American History, then participating families may either purchase the single American History subscription or the Homeschool Mega Bundle which contains American History and 6 other courses.

Are subscriptions enabled for all of your products?

Not yet, but we plan to make regular increases in our catalog. New products will be developed with a subscription model in mind. The Homeschool Mega Bundle provides access to most of our subscription catalog in one product.

Why can’t I add items to my shopping cart?

Subscription items must be purchased individually. If you have existing items in your shopping cart, adding a subscription product will yield the following error message:

Subscription items must be purchased individually with no other items in the cart. Please clear your cart to add this item.

To continue, place your subscription orders non-subscription orders separately.

If I have already purchased a curricular item, do I need to purchase it again as a subscription?

No. We’re not providing any disruption to our valued customers. We’re simply providing an affordable way to integrate some of our other products into your homeschool.

You may, however, find value in purchasing a subscription in addition to your physical or downloadable product. Subscription products are as mobile as your Internet-ready devices. Going on a trip as part of your American History study? Take your phone or tablet and leave the DVDs at home!

What are the system requirements for using a subscription?

You will need Internet access and a device with a modern Web browser. Ad blocking software can cause problems when viewing the videos. Please add http://www.compassclassroom.com/ to your whitelist to enjoy playback.

Will my subscription price change if the store’s advertised price increases?

No. As long as you maintain an active subscription, you will receive the subscription product at the price posted when purchased. If you cancel your subscription and wish to access the content again, you will need to purchase a subscription at the current price.

How can I view the details of my subscription?

Once you’ve logged in to your account, go to “Subscriptions” on the left-hand menu. Click “Manage” on the desired subscription and you will see information about your subscription on the profile page that loads.  You can see the product, start date, billng amount, and next billing date of your subscription. Contact us if you have any questions about your subscription.

What if I don’t like the product or the service?

We offer a comprehensive satisfaction guarantee as follows:

We want you and your kids to be pleased with everything you buy from us, so we guarantee a full refund if you’re not completely satisfied. Shop with confidence!

What happens if I cancel my subscription?

You will no longer have access to the content purchased as a subscription at the end of that billing period.

How do I cancel my subscription?

Our latest update allows the customer to cancel subscriptions at any time. Once you’ve logged in to your account, go to “Subscriptions” on the left-hand menu. Click “Manage” on the desired subscription and “Cancel This Subscription” on the subscription profile that loads. Contact us if you have any difficulty canceling your subscription. You will have access to the content until the end of your current billing period.