When one looks out on today’s educational landscape there are banners and battle lines drawn across the country and the denomination of the PCA. There are banners hailing this method of education over that style of learning. Battle lines pit one education movement against another. Tension and anger mounts as people take up sides for one educational cause or another. 

How refreshing and how timely is the book A+ Education by William Eckenwiler. Eckenwiler was a former assistant professor of Christian education at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL and currently a professor at Geneva College in Pennsylvania. He has taught in public elementary schools, a public university, at a Christian seminary and currently at a Christian college. He has also done much research, both first hand and through collecting data on the emerging home school movement, which allows him to speak with some authority. 

In his writing, he comes across as a friend, taking you by the hand to show you the good, the bad and the ugly of each educational option. He is straightforward and to the point but he never once is obnoxious or in your face about one view or another. By the end of the book, though, you will know that he has a learned opinion on the subject of education.

The major emphasis of the book is the absolute necessity of parental involvement with the schooling needs of each child. In Eckenwiler’s eyes a parent cannot simply drop their child off at any type of school; public or private, Christian or tutorial style, free or tuition paid, and think they have fulfilled their parental duty of educating their children. As he mentions in the closing chapter, “I suspect that as we move across the educational landscape we will find students flourishing and floundering in every setting. I firmly believe that the wild card in all cases is the involvement of the parent… I encourage you to do your homework diligently as you make the decision about the educational setting that is best for your family. I encourage you then to pour yourself into your child’s life on a daily basis. It is a wonderful privilege and responsibility, and, simply put, it works” (emphasis added).

If you are looking for a book that shoots straight on the growing options of educational styles this is a book for you. If you are looking for a book that stresses the importance of Jesus Christ and parents being major parts of your children’s education, this is a book for you. Finally, if you are looking for a book that is refreshing and timely as you look out at the educational landscape today, A+ Education is the book for you.

Dean Conkel, Youth and Family Ministries