I am excited to announce a new book by my wife, Stephanie Boss. Train: Classical Christian Education and Jonathan Edwards (JESociety Press, 2025). Available now.
Why This Book?
What is classical Christian education? What does it mean to train? Who is Jonathan Edwards? What do these three things have in common? In this book we discover a confluence of classical education, spiritual formation, and the theology of Jonathan Edwards. Moreover, the purpose of this little primer is twofold: 1) to encourage teachers and 2) to provide timeless tools for teachers to teach and train the next generation.
This book is not a history of nor a formal apologetic for classical Christian education (CCE) but rather an encouragement for teachers and a morsel of lembas bread to strengthen you for the journey ahead. It is designed to give nuggets of practical wisdom but also offer lists of resources for more—tips and tools to help educators hone their trade—when they are ready—as teachers go on their teaching journey.
The book begins with an autobiographical account of how the author surprisingly stumbled into teaching, and soon after into classical Christian education. The book is further divided into two main sections. Part One is dedicated to ten pedagogies (teaching methods) that are common to both Edwards’ time and today. Part Two offers practical resources for teachers, including lists of top ten, fifteen, and even twenty-five books to read, pitfalls to avoid, questions to ask, answers to questions, and more.
Audiobook coming soon
Train: Classical Christian Education and Jonathan Edwards
by Stephanie Boss
JESociety Press, 2025
Paperback, 191 pages
ISBN 979-8-218-68921-6
https://www.trainthechild.com
About the Author
STEPHANIE BOSS teaches fifth grade—and currently fifth and sixth grade literature—at Covenant Classical School in Fort Worth, Texas. She has taught fifth grade for 20 years, 18 of which have been in classical Christian education. She received a B.A. in Psychology from Louisiana Tech University and an M.A. in Religious Education with a Childhood Education concentration from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She has presented at the Society of Classical Learning summer conference on the two following topics: “Jonathan Edwards as Teacher” and “Surrender to the Stories: The Powerful Pedagogy of Storytelling.” She has a deep love of literature and enjoys sharing this love with her students. Stephanie and her husband, Rob, have two grown daughters, both of whom have graduated from Covenant and have taught at several classical schools.
Praise for TRAIN
This book is both an outstanding primer on classical Christian education and a fascinating source of pedagogical inspiration and edification from Jonathan Edwards, the best-known teacher in colonial America. It offers hard-won wisdom on classroom teaching from a masterful educator. It is stirring, substantive, and consistently practical. Anyone invested in the training of our children will find it full of priceless treasure (old and new). — DOUGLAS A. SWEENEY, Dean of Beeson Divinity School, Samford University
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If you are interested in classical Christian education, you need to read this book. It is short and exceedingly well-written. Stephanie Boss writes like the best speakers—you don’t want them to finish. She does a marvelous job of culling from the works of Edwards—this nation’s greatest theologian, the best Reformed thinker ever, and a master teacher himself—on the hows and beauties of Christian education. You will wish she would teach your children and grandchildren. — GERALD MCDERMOTT, co-author of The Theology of Jonathan Edwards (Oxford University Press)
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Stephanie Boss is a master teacher in classical Christian education! In this book, she provides both aspiring and seasoned teachers a gift of insight, wisdom, and practical instruction that combines all of her passions, gifts, and experiences as an educator. Teachers will draw inspiration and direction from this book for many years ahead! — ERIC COOK, President, Society for Classical Learning
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The education world needs more books written by expert teachers who spend their days in classrooms with real students. Stephanie Boss is the real deal. Her classroom is filled with the pedagogy described in this book and the heart that flows through each page. Instead of being compelled to apply new teaching methods with the unrelenting draw to efficiency, technology, and performance, Stephanie draws implications for the modern classroom from old wisdom. I began reading this book knowing a bit about Edwards and left convinced that a classroom saturated with his ways will be Christ-centered, rich, vibrant, meaning-filled, and effective. — TROY SCHUKNECHT, Head of School, Covenant Classical School
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Jonathan Edwards, widely recognized as America’s foremost theologian and philosopher associated with the First Great Awakening, rarely has been thought of as Teacher—until now. With precision and eloquence, Boss masterfully uncovers this overlooked dimension of Edwards demonstrating how he embodies the ideal classical model for teachers: “shaping the child’s mind, influencing their heart, and guiding their actions.” Full of delightful personal anecdotes, utilizing rich examples from the Great Conversation, and drawing upon Edwards’ vast corpus, Boss, a master teacher herself, vividly illustrates how Edwards has profoundly shaped her own pedagogy. Offering both theoretical justification and practical classroom application, Train shows why regarding Edwards as Teacher is not only worthwhile but essential for both new and experienced classical educators. This book is a treasure! — DEBORAH ALLEN, Classical education consultant, founder of Athena College & Vocational Coaching
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Boss opens her book with an autobiographical story about how she haphazardly entered the teaching profession. Many classical teachers have similar stories because classical schools needed to source Biblical men and women over state-educated teachers. She recounts how she first learned of Jonathan Edwards and how he has influenced her life and her teaching. Personally, I didn’t know much about Edwards and the book has me interested in reading more of his works. Boss is very thorough in documenting her research and she includes some fun resources to help a brand new teacher of classical education. Personally, I loved all the primary source quotes she used. My favorite quote is at the end. First year classical teachers hold themselves to high standards and we will beat ourselves up over the littlest missed detail. But Boss gives beautiful encouragement, ‘When you fail, ask for help – again. He will give it. Surrender, and then enjoy life.’ I absolutely recommend this easy-to-digest book on the application of ‘instructional strategies of Jonathan Edwards’! — BELINDA HENSON, M.Ed., Head of School, Legacy Classical Christian Academy
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The author is an experienced teacher in classical Christian education, a lover of all things Jonathan Edwards, and an active and involved member of her local church. As the greatest intellectual our nation has produced, any thought he gives to a subject enhances and deepens our understanding. Read and enjoy! — DR. AL MEREDITH, Pastor Emeritus, Wedgwood Baptist Church, Fort Worth, TX