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Reskilling America: Learning to Labor in the 21st Century
After decades of off-shoring and downsizing that have left blue collar workers obsolete, the United States is now on the verge of an industrial renaissance. We don't have a skilled labor pool to fill the positions that will be created, which are technically demanding and require specialized skills. A decades-long series of idealistic educational policies with the expressed goal of getting every student to go to college has left a generation of potential workers out of the system. Touted as a progressive, egalitarian institution providing opportunity even to those with the greatest need, the American secondary school system has deepened existing inequalities.
Acclaimed sociologists Katherine Newman and Hella Winston argue we can do better. Taking a page from the successful experience of countries like Germany and Austria, they call for a radical reevaluation of the idea of vocational training. The United States can prepare a high performance labor force if we revamp our school system to value industry apprenticeship and technical education. By doing so, we will not only be able to meet the growing demand for skilled employees in dozens of sectors--we will make the American Dream accessible to all.
Acclaimed sociologists Katherine Newman and Hella Winston argue we can do better. Taking a page from the successful experience of countries like Germany and Austria, they call for a radical reevaluation of the idea of vocational training. The United States can prepare a high performance labor force if we revamp our school system to value industry apprenticeship and technical education. By doing so, we will not only be able to meet the growing demand for skilled employees in dozens of sectors--we will make the American Dream accessible to all.
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First published April 19, 2016
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About the author
Katherine S. Newman
27 books28 followersKatherine Newman is Professor of Sociology and James Knapp Dean of the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences at Johns Hopkins University. Author of several books on middle class economic instability, urban poverty, and the sociology of inequality, she previously taught at the University of California (Berkeley), Columbia, Harvard, and Princeton.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 20, 2017
In this timely look at a very important topic, Katherine Newman and Hella Winston challenge prevailing views about the form and value of vocational education in the United States. Whereas vocational education has become the red-headed stepchild of American education policy, the authors argue that the mantra of "college for all" has failed to deliver real benefits to many students while facilitating a lack of workers for middle-skill professions like manufacturing, welding, HVAC, and plumbing. The authors trace this bias to American concerns about pigeonholing students at an early age and a broader lack of respect for the blue-collar professions, even as those professions require greater familiarity with advanced technology.
A good portion of this slim, accessible book is devoted to a look at various vocational programs that have managed to survive in the inhospitable American educational climate. The authors introduce readers to a number of vocationally oriented high schools, community colleges, and technical colleges, offering a window into the opportunities they provide for students and the challenges they face in fundraising and coping with the demands of a one-size-fits-all standardized test regime.
The book then moves on to Germany, where the authors provide an overview of the "dual system" of vocational schools and apprenticeships that have helped Germany maintain its prominence as a center of manufacturing. Although the German system is not perfect (the authors acknowledge some issues with parochialism), it's abundantly clear that Germany has found a way to provide secure middle-class jobs in sectors that Americans have basically written off. To the uninitiated American, the idea of a fully unionized employer succeeding in a global market while undertaking the time and expense to train young workers sounds like a fantasy. But this is merely par for the course in Germany, where the only real threat to the system seems to be a rising cultural bias against blue-collar jobs and a diminishing pipeline of young apprentices.
Finally, the authors return to the United States and explore the various state and local programs that are trying to provide better vocational training and apprenticeship programs. In many cases, these initiatives are either spearheaded or inspired by German employers that have set up operations in the United States. While these initiatives are a bit of a patchwork and limited by the American cultural biases discussed above, the authors find "green shoots" of innovation in such unlikely places as rural South Carolina.
This book isn't a partisan screed or a promise for a silver bullet in education policy - just a sharply observed and thoughtfully argued case for reassessing our national educational priorities and creating new policies that can give underserved students an opportunity to make it into the middle class.
A good portion of this slim, accessible book is devoted to a look at various vocational programs that have managed to survive in the inhospitable American educational climate. The authors introduce readers to a number of vocationally oriented high schools, community colleges, and technical colleges, offering a window into the opportunities they provide for students and the challenges they face in fundraising and coping with the demands of a one-size-fits-all standardized test regime.
The book then moves on to Germany, where the authors provide an overview of the "dual system" of vocational schools and apprenticeships that have helped Germany maintain its prominence as a center of manufacturing. Although the German system is not perfect (the authors acknowledge some issues with parochialism), it's abundantly clear that Germany has found a way to provide secure middle-class jobs in sectors that Americans have basically written off. To the uninitiated American, the idea of a fully unionized employer succeeding in a global market while undertaking the time and expense to train young workers sounds like a fantasy. But this is merely par for the course in Germany, where the only real threat to the system seems to be a rising cultural bias against blue-collar jobs and a diminishing pipeline of young apprentices.
Finally, the authors return to the United States and explore the various state and local programs that are trying to provide better vocational training and apprenticeship programs. In many cases, these initiatives are either spearheaded or inspired by German employers that have set up operations in the United States. While these initiatives are a bit of a patchwork and limited by the American cultural biases discussed above, the authors find "green shoots" of innovation in such unlikely places as rural South Carolina.
This book isn't a partisan screed or a promise for a silver bullet in education policy - just a sharply observed and thoughtfully argued case for reassessing our national educational priorities and creating new policies that can give underserved students an opportunity to make it into the middle class.
June 17, 2016
America needs to increase and systemize vocational training, say authors Katherine S. Newman and Hella Winston. They address a general adult audience, but this book would appeal to mostly to people involved in the triangle of players the authors speak of: government officials over education, industry leaders (including unions), and educators in high school and college (vocational/technical schools and community college), and perhaps parents.
As a homeschooling parent of a high schooler would rather attend a trade school than a four-year college, I perked up my ears to catch the title of this book while listening to Michael Medved interview one of the authors on his radio show. Then I ordered the book.
The education system of the United States, with its focus on "college for all," is harmful for several reasons, states Reskilling America: Learning to Labor in the Twenty-First Century.
First, many manufacturing jobs that left the US a few decades ago are returning, and industry can't find enough qualified employees to fill positions. Next, many students, primarily from the lower working class families or those who prefer working with their hands instead of academic work, need another option other than a four-year degree or a "McDonald" job. Moreover, if America is going to be competitive in the global market, it needs to change its negative attitude toward middle-wage, blue-collar work.
The authors are enamored by the German education system, in which students are tracked for vocational or college work. The vocational track gives the students much more training time in a factory and allows them to receive more school credit for that work than in the US system. The authors agree that due to cultural differences, the US cannot fully adopt the German system, but call for a modified, nationally standardized system for apprenticeships in the US, asking primarily the federal government to foot the bill like it is done in Germany.
I disagree with that last belief. The US once was the industrial leader in the world by the power of the private sector. Therefore, apprenticeships should be left to the private sector.
Overall, the book is easy to read and provides a different viewpoint on educating our young people. However, it did bother me that all their examples of programs in the US were in the East, South, and Midwest. No mention of programs in the West, where I live. Furthermore, I wish they had included more information on how an individual can be involved in making concrete changes in one's own community.
For years, I've been concerned that most appliance repairmen are old. Who will fix my dishwasher 20 years from now? Too many young people are in college who don't belong there and end up dropping out and wasting time and money. By growing the trade schools, many will benefit across the nation.
As a homeschooling parent of a high schooler would rather attend a trade school than a four-year college, I perked up my ears to catch the title of this book while listening to Michael Medved interview one of the authors on his radio show. Then I ordered the book.
The education system of the United States, with its focus on "college for all," is harmful for several reasons, states Reskilling America: Learning to Labor in the Twenty-First Century.
First, many manufacturing jobs that left the US a few decades ago are returning, and industry can't find enough qualified employees to fill positions. Next, many students, primarily from the lower working class families or those who prefer working with their hands instead of academic work, need another option other than a four-year degree or a "McDonald" job. Moreover, if America is going to be competitive in the global market, it needs to change its negative attitude toward middle-wage, blue-collar work.
The authors are enamored by the German education system, in which students are tracked for vocational or college work. The vocational track gives the students much more training time in a factory and allows them to receive more school credit for that work than in the US system. The authors agree that due to cultural differences, the US cannot fully adopt the German system, but call for a modified, nationally standardized system for apprenticeships in the US, asking primarily the federal government to foot the bill like it is done in Germany.
I disagree with that last belief. The US once was the industrial leader in the world by the power of the private sector. Therefore, apprenticeships should be left to the private sector.
Overall, the book is easy to read and provides a different viewpoint on educating our young people. However, it did bother me that all their examples of programs in the US were in the East, South, and Midwest. No mention of programs in the West, where I live. Furthermore, I wish they had included more information on how an individual can be involved in making concrete changes in one's own community.
For years, I've been concerned that most appliance repairmen are old. Who will fix my dishwasher 20 years from now? Too many young people are in college who don't belong there and end up dropping out and wasting time and money. By growing the trade schools, many will benefit across the nation.
March 11, 2016
This is a Goodreads win review. This book is about how the off-shoring and downsizing has left our workers obsolete and that we are on the verge of an industrial renaissance. However we do not have the workers that can do more technically demanding jobs. Even with a college degree poeple have a problem finding work. We need to have more vocational trianing to get people working.
August 15, 2021
The book started somewhat interesting and then was pretty boring and dry for most of the middle. Conclusion was pretty great though, so I’ll give it four stars.
September 18, 2017
I listened to the audio book version.
This should be a must read for anyone looking to improve the employment opportunities for young people in America. The whole "college for all" approach to education in America means many students who do not plan to attend college leave high school with no marketable skills, and many college graduates find themselves underemployed with tons of debt, not able to find jobs in their desired fields.
This book advocates for more investment in quality CTE (Career Technical Education) that can prepare students for the good paying skilled jobs needed today and in the future. A highly skilled labor force is needed by high tech automated manufacturing facilities and others, but these skills are not taught in high school or in most colleges.
Manufacturing is coming back to America (at least in some places), but these manufacturing jobs are different from the ones that were outsourced years ago. These jobs require technical skills and the ability to do applied mathematics. There are also many other kinds of middle-skill jobs in America, but companies have trouble finding workers with the necessary skills to perform these jobs.
Many people associate CTE training as inferior to academic studies and so those who could benefit greatly from the training are not encouraged to do so. This book provides many examples of how CTE training can be superior to a college track academic program.
There are lots of comparisons in the book between CTE training in America and Germany. The book advocates for more of a German style approach, but the authors realize that there would be many barriers to that implementation. Even so, the book highlights ways the American CTE system could be greatly improved.
This should be a must read for anyone looking to improve the employment opportunities for young people in America. The whole "college for all" approach to education in America means many students who do not plan to attend college leave high school with no marketable skills, and many college graduates find themselves underemployed with tons of debt, not able to find jobs in their desired fields.
This book advocates for more investment in quality CTE (Career Technical Education) that can prepare students for the good paying skilled jobs needed today and in the future. A highly skilled labor force is needed by high tech automated manufacturing facilities and others, but these skills are not taught in high school or in most colleges.
Manufacturing is coming back to America (at least in some places), but these manufacturing jobs are different from the ones that were outsourced years ago. These jobs require technical skills and the ability to do applied mathematics. There are also many other kinds of middle-skill jobs in America, but companies have trouble finding workers with the necessary skills to perform these jobs.
Many people associate CTE training as inferior to academic studies and so those who could benefit greatly from the training are not encouraged to do so. This book provides many examples of how CTE training can be superior to a college track academic program.
There are lots of comparisons in the book between CTE training in America and Germany. The book advocates for more of a German style approach, but the authors realize that there would be many barriers to that implementation. Even so, the book highlights ways the American CTE system could be greatly improved.
March 22, 2016
The author does a good job making an easy, insightful read about a necessary if not coming resurgence in vocational aka career and technical education (CTE). The authors arguments are:
1) It worked in the USA before (Pre-WWI to post-WWI) and had a nadir in the 80s but is due for a resurgence because...
2) ... American is better positioned now to retain and build middle-skill jobs from welders to nurses to green engineers, etc.
3) Germany provides a working model showcasing a partnership between educational institutions, government, and industry.
4) Such middle-skill jobs are middle class guarantors
and,
5) The cost of necessary education, as proven in NYC schools and elsewhere, is a much smaller burden on the student and society proportional to the positive impact.
(I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.)
1) It worked in the USA before (Pre-WWI to post-WWI) and had a nadir in the 80s but is due for a resurgence because...
2) ... American is better positioned now to retain and build middle-skill jobs from welders to nurses to green engineers, etc.
3) Germany provides a working model showcasing a partnership between educational institutions, government, and industry.
4) Such middle-skill jobs are middle class guarantors
and,
5) The cost of necessary education, as proven in NYC schools and elsewhere, is a much smaller burden on the student and society proportional to the positive impact.
(I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.)
September 18, 2016
More and more schools are heading back to traditional methods of post secondary choices. Our schools should support more trade schools to enhance our labor workforce Some kids are not meant to be a college bound student,but trade school or armed services are a better choice. A typical American school day finds 6 million high school kids struggling with algebra. All too many students are expected to fail. Why are we subjecting our kids to this? Our students are led through a one size fits all program, when in reality an 8th grade math education suffices most fields after high school. According to Hacker, 1 in 4 of the nations high school freshmen, fail to finish high school citing algebra as the culprit.(Hacker, New York Times, 2012.)
October 15, 2016
There's a clear angle here, but I appreciated the background history of vocational training in the U.S. labor force, and the anecdotes provide some hope for a world-weary millennial who feels America's good days are behind her.
Some good policy recommendations, along with a bit of good news: domestic manufacturing is on the rise again; everyone should pick up a trade to fall back on; restore funding for vocational training programs (especially through community colleges); also, many blue-collar workers can be better off than college graduates, given rising tuition and student loan burdens.
Some good policy recommendations, along with a bit of good news: domestic manufacturing is on the rise again; everyone should pick up a trade to fall back on; restore funding for vocational training programs (especially through community colleges); also, many blue-collar workers can be better off than college graduates, given rising tuition and student loan burdens.
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May 6, 2016Just read the NYT magazine devoted to the middle class and now read this. The magazine was more of an analysis of what's happened to the American middle class since the 50s and this book proposes an interesting solution.
October 1, 2016
Spending a good 20 pages or so bashing the very people and groups you recommend could push your agenda in the last ten pages probably is not a great way to get what you'd like done.
This would be one hell of an argument if the pet peeves portion(s) had been cut out by a decent editor.
This would be one hell of an argument if the pet peeves portion(s) had been cut out by a decent editor.
April 2, 2017
I highly recommend this book to anyone concerned with the unemployment rates and the future of business and production in the U.S. and elsewhere. Highly researched and written in an engaging and accessible fashion.
June 19, 2018
Advocates for a return to more vocational training in schools, but largely glosses over the reasons why we stopped -- prejudiced was sending lower income and minority children to vocational classes and not college prep.
January 7, 2021
Another negative book review from me. For Reskilling America: Learning to Labor in the Twenty-first Century by Katherine S. Newman and Hella Winston, the problem is not a lack of research, but rather that the book, like American society in general, has no real way to grapple with the fact that some kids aren’t as smart as others. Any vocational ed program in the United States is going to have a problem with averages that we aren’t capable of resolving.
Freddie deBoer or Paige Harden will be happy to point out why this is so. If that isn’t enough, consider that someone who writes a book like No, You Can’t Be an Astronaut that does attempt to grapple with this in a constructive way, does so under a pseudonym.
Until something big changes, vocational education programs will keep getting proposed, and keep dying for this big, but largely unacknowledged reason. All of the carefully assembled research cited in this volume means nothing until that happens.
I received a free copy of this book through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers program.
Freddie deBoer or Paige Harden will be happy to point out why this is so. If that isn’t enough, consider that someone who writes a book like No, You Can’t Be an Astronaut that does attempt to grapple with this in a constructive way, does so under a pseudonym.
Until something big changes, vocational education programs will keep getting proposed, and keep dying for this big, but largely unacknowledged reason. All of the carefully assembled research cited in this volume means nothing until that happens.
I received a free copy of this book through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers program.
August 19, 2020
Twice as long as it needs to be
Far too much anecdotal exposition bogs down the analysis and muddies the points. I would have preferred to read more about the studies and potential policy prescriptions than yet another story from a high schooler. Yes, their lived experiences matter, but we don't need 10 versions of the same story to make the point that vocational tracks are valid and worthy of investment.
Far too much anecdotal exposition bogs down the analysis and muddies the points. I would have preferred to read more about the studies and potential policy prescriptions than yet another story from a high schooler. Yes, their lived experiences matter, but we don't need 10 versions of the same story to make the point that vocational tracks are valid and worthy of investment.
December 30, 2022
Very agenda driven book. Would've been a great deal more interesting to read if there weren't so many typos!!!
February 12, 2023
Some of predictions are 2024. Maybe a bit out of dat.
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January 31, 2019Essential reading for professional educators.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews