ReStorying Education: Critical Perspectives in Public Education

Reviewed by Julia Bach, Professor of Practice, Wheaton College on 6/4/25

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

ReStorying Education: Critical Perspectives in Public education provides a comprehensive and well-researched overview of public education in the Unites States. The ten chapters that comprise the text explore the philosophical underpinnings of education, important historical legacies, and contemporary and ongoing considerations. The introduction to the text offers a clear overview of the purpose of the text and the importance of taking a critical look at education inspired by Freire. Of particular strength is the chapter on assessment and the multiple ways assessment may function within a learning environment. The chapter on linguistic diversity and bilingual education covers a great deal of content, but only alludes to Lau v. Nichols and does not name the court case. Departing from the U.S. focus, the final chapter of the text examines the Finnish education system with attention to its unique characteristics including localized schools and teacher autonomy where learning objectives are prioritized, not teaching objectives. However, the chapter does not examine the unique features of Finnish society (free and accessible education for children 0-6, for example) that surround the education system.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

ReStorying Education is a well-researched text that draws on wide-ranging scholarship to provide philosophical background for education before delving into specific curricular questions and instructional design. The chapters include guiding questions that focus readers’ attention throughout the chapter and incorporate discussion questions and tasks. Key terms are bolded throughout the text with definitions included in the side bar for easy reference. However, some of the terms are incomplete which impedes easy comprehension.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The initial chapter includes pop culture references that help establish context and serve to illustrate common tropes about schools and teaching without being immediately obsolete. The subsequent chapters effectively explore foundational philosophical arguments and historical circumstances for U.S. education. Later chapters explore the impact of COVID-19 on student learning outcomes as well as developments in Artificial Intelligence. The latter could be explored in greater depth in future editions.

Clarity rating: 5

The text is written in clear and precise prose with purposefully structured sections to advance arguments. Disciplinary specific vocabulary is presented in bold-faced type with comprehensible definitions that support readers’ comprehension.

Consistency rating: 5

The text is internally consistent reiterates a critical perspective on education throughout. The text uses clear terminology and elaborates on the importance of restorying narratives around U.S. public education with a consistent focus on incorporating readers’ perspectives. Most of the chapters include a conclusion that summarizes the key points of the chapter.

Modularity rating: 5

The table of contents is specific and precise. The text begins with a thoughtful introduction that establishes the theoretical framing, provides a detailed overview and purpose for the text. The text could be used by chapter and to a lesser extent, independent subsections.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

In terms of organization, there are clear and specific chapter titles with introductory paragraphs that outline the goals of each chapter and invite the readers to consider critical questions. The text has a brief introductory essay; however, there is no comparable conclusion at the end of the text to tie the strands from the chapters together. Key terms are defined in the sidebar as they appear in the text and again at the end of each chapter.

Interface rating: 5

Chapters generally follow the same format making the text consistent and easy to navigate and helps increase clarity. It is easier to read and take advantage of the discussion questions and activity prompts. The chapters can be accessed through a dropdown menu or arrows at the bottom of the screen. The text is more easily accessed online as opposed to pdf format. Images and tables are clear, well-labeled and add to readers’ understanding of the concepts. Crucial theorists and scholars are highlighted in each chapter.

Grammatical Errors rating: 4

Overall, the text is clearly written with few errors that do not impede comprehension. In some places, there are missing articles or duplicate phrases but the main ideas and arguments remain clear.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The text is not culturally insensitive and includes a variety of scholarly perspectives. There is a section devoted to Indigenous knowledge and epistemology. Elsewhere the authors elaborate on the importance of critical race theory in the context of education and culturally relevant pedagogy. The authors also discuss the connection between land grant universities and the removal of Indigenous communities from their land.

Reviewed by Tracey Caterine, Instructor, Framingham State University on 5/29/25

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The table of contents reflects strong, comprehensive coverage of critical issues in U.S. public education, including foundational philosophy, curriculum, systemic injustice, linguistic diversity, ethics, and global comparisons. The inclusion of multiple authors contributes depth and a range of perspectives, while the Paulo Freire quote effectively grounds the book in a critical pedagogy framework. Glossaries are provided where needed throughout the text, offering clear definitions of key terms that enhance accessibility and support reader understanding of technical language and educational contexts. These glossaries, including detailed entries on topics like the Finnish education system, complement the content effectively and contribute to the book’s overall clarity and comprehensiveness.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The text is well-written, accurate, and free from factual errors or bias, especially within the context of critical pedagogy and educational theory. It transparently states its critical, social-justice-oriented perspective while acknowledging foundational educational frameworks.

Scholarly References: The use of Paulo Freire and the concept of "restorying" is grounded in respected pedagogical literature.
Clear Intent: It clearly defines its purpose as an alternative to traditional textbooks, which is appropriate and not misleading.
Unbiased within context: Though the perspective is critical, it does not distort facts or misrepresent other viewpoints—it presents a focused lens rather than a biased one.

The text demonstrates academic integrity, reflective awareness of its stance, and sound scholarship—warranting a top score for accuracy.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The text presents a current and thoughtful critique of teacher portrayals in popular media, referencing well-known films and shows from the 1990s through the 2010s. These cultural references remain relevant for discussing long-standing stereotypes and public perceptions of educators. Moreover, the analysis is grounded in enduring educational and sociocultural issues - such as professionalism, systemic critique, and media influence - ensuring the content will not quickly become obsolete. Additionally, the discussion is framed in a way that allows for easy updating: newer media examples can be inserted without altering the theoretical or analytical framework. This adaptability supports a high score for relevance.

Clarity rating: 4

The text is generally well-written and presents complex historical developments in American public education using clear, scholarly prose. It provides adequate background for terms within the main text or through glossaries and side notes. This supports reader comprehension, particularly for students or educators new to these concepts. By defining key terms right where they appear, the text helps readers easily understand specialized vocabulary or concepts without needing to flip back and forth. However, the clarity score is slightly reduced from a perfect 5 because the prose occasionally leans toward dense, academic phrasing without always pausing to explain those terms in accessible language. Some long, information-rich sentences could also be broken up to improve readability. Overall, the writing is lucid and informative, but a bit of simplification and sentence restructuring could make it more accessible to a broader range of readers.

Consistency rating: 5

The text maintains strong internal consistency in terminology and conceptual framework. Terms are clearly defined and used consistently throughout the passage. The framework linking political ideology, policy changes, and educational structure is coherent and systematically developed. There are no evident contradictions or shifts in definitions, and the text builds logically from federal policy shifts to local implications in school governance and funding. The glossary definitions and the in-text explanations align well, reinforcing a unified approach to the topics. The terminology is consistently defined and reinforced across different parts of the text, ensuring readers encounter the same clear explanations whenever key terms come up. Overall, the text presents a stable, consistent framework that supports reader understanding without confusion or mixed messaging.

Modularity rating: 4

The text is fairly well structured with natural breaks and subheadings, making it easy to divide into smaller reading units. These subunits are thematic and coherent on their own, so instructors could assign sections separately without losing critical context or confusing readers. Glossary entries are embedded within or near relevant sections, it makes it easier to assign discrete sections independently without losing critical definitions. However, there is a slight self-referential element which ties the sections to a larger whole. While this is common in textbooks and doesn’t greatly impair modularity, it means the text is best used within the full course context to avoid minor disruption.
Overall, the text can be reorganized or excerpted with little difficulty and does not consist of overly large, undifferentiated blocks, supporting flexibility in teaching assignments.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

The text follows a clear and logical progression, moving from historical context - such as the development of public schools and child labor reform - to shifts in policy like neoliberalism in education, and then to contemporary issues like assessment challenges. Major sections are clearly marked with headings and subheadings that guide the reader through topic changes, while glossaries and definitions integrated within relevant units help clarify complex concepts. The modular structure also supports easy division of the material into manageable segments suitable for different course units. Although some paragraphs are lengthy and occasionally concepts overlap, which could benefit from tighter segmentation, overall the text maintains a coherent flow that allows readers to follow both the historical narrative and policy analysis quite easily.

Interface rating: 4

The text includes clear headings, subheadings, and glossary sections that aid navigation and comprehension. Definitions are thoughtfully placed within relevant sections, which helps readers easily reference terms without interrupting the flow. There are no indications of formatting problems, distorted images, or charts that detract from the reading experience. Overall, the text supports readability and user-friendly navigation without distractions.

Grammatical Errors rating: 4

The text demonstrates a high level of grammatical accuracy. The prose is generally clear and well-constructed with proper sentence structure, punctuation, and word usage. However, there are a few minor issues such as occasional missing articles , some awkward phrasing, and occasional typographical errors. These minor flaws do not significantly impede comprehension but slightly detract from an otherwise polished presentation. Overall, the text is grammatically sound with room for small improvements.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The text demonstrates a strong commitment to cultural sensitivity and inclusivity. It promotes instructional strategies that support diverse learning styles and encourages differentiation to meet the needs of all students, including those who are struggling, advanced, or have unique preferences. The emphasis on student agency, peer collaboration, and formative feedback reflects a learner-centered and equitable approach to education. In addition, the broader textbook includes explicit attention to Indigenous students and communities. It addresses issues such as cultural erasure and advocates for recognizing the presence and contributions of Indigenous peoples in both historical and contemporary contexts. This inclusion not only affirms the identities of Indigenous learners but also educates all students about systemic inequities and the importance of culturally responsive teaching. Overall, the textbook fosters an inclusive educational framework that is respectful of racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity.

Comments

This online textbook stands out as a strong and timely resource for teacher education, offering a well-balanced combination of breadth, depth, and accessibility. Its consistent emphasis on student agency, formative assessment, and critical thinking reflects a student-centered orientation that aligns with contemporary educational priorities. The integration of educational theory with practical classroom strategies makes it highly applicable for teachers. The inclusion of case studies and various charts throughout the text further enhances clarity and comprehension, offering concrete illustrations of complex concepts and supporting a range of learning styles. Additionally, the modular layout, logical organization, and glossaries provided where needed contribute to a user-friendly experience.

Importantly, the online open resource nature of the text significantly increases its accessibility, making it available to all learners regardless of socioeconomic status. This openness supports educational equity and ensures that high-quality content is within reach for a diverse audience of educators and students. The text also demonstrates a strong commitment to inclusive pedagogy. It includes culturally responsive content with attention to Indigenous students, multilingual learners, and other historically marginalized groups, helping to foster positive teaching practices.

While already comprehensive, future editions could consider expanding coverage of emerging issues such as digital literacy, AI in education, and trauma-informed teaching. Overall, the text is an excellent, thoughtfully designed resource that effectively supports critical, reflective, and inclusive teaching and learning.