A Beka Book

A Beka Book
Mission statement Excellence in Education from a Christian Perspective.
Location Pensacola, Florida
Owner Pensacola Christian College
Founder Pensacola Christian College
Website http://www.abeka.com

A Beka Book is a publisher affiliated with Pensacola Christian College (PCC) that produces K-12 curriculum materials that are used by Christian[1][2][3] schools and homeschooling families around the world. It is named after Rebekah Horton, wife of college president Arlin Horton. By the 1980s, A Beka Book and BJU Press (formerly Bob Jones University Press) were the two major publishers of Christian-based educational materials in America.[4]

A Beka Book's video academy program (A Beka Academy) and the Traditional Parent-Directed program are accredited by the following organizations: first by the Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (FACCS) which provides national recognition through the National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA). Secondly, by the state of Florida through the Florida Association of Academic Nonpublic Schools (FAANS). Thirdly, A Beka Academy is recognized by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI) — a division of AdvancED — and one of only six agencies that accredit both public and nonpublic educational institutions. Programs of study accredited by SACS CASI, such as A Beka Academy, are part of an international educational network, the members of which have demonstrated success in educating students. Furthermore, SACS CASI accreditation is recognized internationally.[5]

A Beka Book has been criticized in recent years by secular organizations such as the University of California and National Center for Science Education for publishing information contrary to generally accepted historical and scientific views, especially regarding the age of the Earth and evolution. Counterintuitive to more secular programs, A Beka Book takes a traditional Biblical literalist and young Earth creationist position in its science curriculum, portraying the Genesis creation narrative as a fact. This is unsurprising, however, as A Beka Book is a Christian curriculum typically serving those Christian families who have different viewpoints than their secular counterparts. For example, A Beka Book was criticized by certain organizations for selling works that are contradictory to the scientific views regarding the origins of the universe, origins of life, and evolution.

In Association of Christian Schools International v. Roman Stearns, a judge upheld the University of California's rejection of A Beka publications for preparatory use, because the books are "inconsistent with the viewpoints and knowledge generally accepted in the scientific community."[6][7]

In recent years, a small minority of Christian homeschoolers have turned away from A Beka Book, seeking books that accord with the secular scientific views on the age of the Earth and cosmology, and, to a lesser degree, biological origins.[8] Conversely, some Christian schools utilize A Beka Book learning materials in classroom because of their pro-Neoliberal/anti-Marxist economic posturing. [Reference removed because it was suspicious content. "This site has been hacked."]

Between 1988 and 1996, A Beka Book held tax exempt status, because its profits were channeled into PCC as a tax-exempt religious organization or educational institution.[9] In January 1995, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service ruled that the college's publishing arm was liable for taxes as a profit-making entity. The IRS further ruled that since the profits of the publishing arm benefited the organization as a whole due to the fact that both A Beka Book and PCC were run under the same organization and that all of the profits of A Beka Book went directly to PCC constituting 60% of the college's income.[10] The effect of this ruling rendered the publishing company ineligible for future tax exempt status.

Although PCC was ultimately cleared of any liability for back taxes, PCC paid the estimated $44.5 million, and A Beka Book paid another $3.5 million.

References

  1. ↑ http://cathyduffyreviews.com/major-publishers.htm
  2. ↑ Wagner, Melinda Bollar (1991). God's schools: choice and compromise in American society. Rutgers University Press. p. 157. ISBN 978-0-8135-1607-3.
  3. ↑ Parsons, Paul F (1988). Inside America's Christian Schools. Mercer University Press. p. 89. ISBN 978-0-86554-303-4.
  4. ↑ Parsons, Paul F (1988). Inside America's Christian Schools. Mercer University Press. p. 42. ISBN 978-0-86554-303-4.
  5. ↑ http://www.abekaacademy.org/about/accreditation.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
  6. ↑ "Creationist lawsuit against UC system to proceed". National Center for Science Education. August 10, 2006. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
  7. ↑ "Judge throws out religious discrimination suit". North County Times. August 8, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-24.
  8. ↑ "Old Earth, Young Minds: Evangelical Homeschoolers Embrace Evolution". The Atlantic. March 8, 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
  9. ↑ "Taxpayers foot religious school's tax tab". St. Petersburg Times. Jul 7, 1996. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  10. ↑ "College Pays Millions in Taxes". Christianity Today. October 28, 1996. Retrieved 2006-10-20.