The New Revisionists: Recent Histories of Inequality and Urban Education.

This article reviews four books that challenge the notion that public schools in American cities are meritocratic institutions. The authors argue that public education perpetuates inequalities of race and class, and that school reform alone cannot address urban inequality. The books explore topics such as suburban schooling, the privatization of urban schooling in New Orleans, and the historical roots of educational inequality in Philadelphia. They offer new perspectives on the relationship between equity and urban education, emphasizing the historical factors that contribute to disparities in urban schools. The authors caution against relying solely on education reform and stress the importance of considering local context and broader social issues in addressing educational inequality. [Extracted from the article]