The Nexus of Teaching and Demographics is intended as a “primer on the legal foundation and history” of public education in the US, with a particular emphasis on the challenges new generations of teachers will face in the future. The slim volume provides a brief account of the development of public schooling in the US as well as the ways two groups of “involuntary minorities” (African Americans and Native Americans) were excluded from and/or disciplined by this system. Bradbury points to changing demographics in the recent past to show why American public education has shifted from a focus on assimilation to cultural pluralism and then highlights the challenge of diversifying the nation’s teaching force to reflect the identities of the growing number of students of color. He concludes by pointing to the necessity of “pedagogical resilience” for new generations of both teachers and students…. [A] thoughtful meditation on the American education system. Faculty in teacher preparation programs will want to read it, and some future teachers might find it useful too. Recommended. Advanced undergraduates, faculty, and professionals.

Choice Reviews

In The Nexus of Teaching and Demographics: Context and Connections from Colonial Times to Today, Boyd Bradbury provides valuable background information on a variety of topics that impact the educational climate that exists in contemporary public schools. This book not only provides indispensable knowledge about the history of public education in the United States, but also strengthens the capacity to better understand the changing demographics and racial diversity that influence how one teaches and how schools and districts function. This book is a must read for any aspiring or current teacher as well as any school administrator ready to appreciate how equity will play a role in shaping the 21st century educational scene.

Michael Coquyt, Minnesota State University Moorhead

Bradbury’s book will be transformative for teaching educational foundations to our future educators. He addresses the history of education in the U.S. from a systemic viewpoint, while making a case to redesign our schools for a more equitable education for all children. His thorough examination of our past, acknowledgement of our present, and his ideas for changing the future will educate and motivate every reader. Each topic in this book is crucial to the redesign of our K-12 schools from the history of American education, recent demographic trends, and the dynamics of cultural diversity. The text is written for all educators and teacher educators, but will have a profound impact on our novice, preservice teachers. This book will be instrumental in guiding new teachers towards creating equitable classrooms and pushing for systemic change in U.S. education.

Kristen Carlson, St. Cloud State University