Beginning in the early 20th century, communities across the country embarked on an ambitious

project to expand secondary education for American teenagers.

This phenomenon became known as the American high school movement.

Mass secondary education propelled the United States to the highest standard of living

and best educated population

in the world. Today, however, American education is facing a crisis. The standard high school diploma

doesn't prepare enough students for the modern economy. Surveys of businesses consistently show

hundreds of thousands of positions in manufacturing firms go

unfilled due to lack of qualified workers. It's clear that career and technical training in the

United States hasn't evolved to keep up with the transformation of the modern economy,

with many schools even slashing funding for vocational programs. Dealing with the issue

will require a massive shift in American education that centers on high-quality career training.

In this next episode of 10 blocks, he'll hear from two City Journal editors talking about their

articles that appeared in our recent special issue,

The Shape of Work to Come.

Paul Beston, City Journal's Managing Editor, is the author of When High School-shaped

America's Destiny, and Steve Mulanga, our senior editor and fellow at the Manhattan Institute,

is the author of Vocational Ed Reborn.

Their conversation begins after this. Music Institute is the author of Vocational Ed Reborn.

Their conversation begins after this.

Hello, I'm City Journal editor Brian Anderson.

Thanks for joining us for the Ten Blocks podcast featuring urban policy and cultural commentary with City Journal editors, contributors, and special guests.

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