The Education Trap

The belief that education is an engine of social equality a deeply seated and enduring feature the American political imagination. In time before public schools were ubiquitous, early proponents common schools, such as Horace Mann, argued widespread educational attainment would lead to more fair equal society (Massachusetts Board Education, 1848). recently inaugurated Biden administration invokes similar about sufficient condition for success: per campaign website, will invest in so “regardless their zip code, parents’ income, race, or disability, [all children] are prepared succeed tomorrow’s economy” (The Plan Educators, Students, Our Future, n.d.).But education, Mann famously contended continues suggest, “the great equalizer,” society’s fruits disbursed according less meritocratic forces? Assessing this conviction motivation at heart Education Trap, Cristina Groeger’s history labor late-nineteenth-and early-twentieth-century Boston. As title suggests, Groeger, professor Lake Forest College, finds reason doubt Mann’s pronouncement.In considering evidence, Groeger traces vicissitudes Boston’s workforce from approximately 1880 1940, paying particular attention relationship between employment, organizations. argues Progressive Era Boston provides illustrative case study because process credentialing emerged context provided template model sweep nation, structuring our current moment. Drawing on archival documents newly accessible individual-level US Census data, catalogs changes market during period economic transformation highlights how various initiatives—from philanthropic ventures aimed elevating professional dignity lowstatus domestic growth business elite colleges—failed increase pay status menial work generate pathways desirable white-collar jobs.The book divided into six sections. It begins with review networks governed life late 1800s, when high school was rare even high-status like legal practice did not require formal education. intersperses testimony workers, reformers, observers well-presented graphs census data illustrate worlds low-wage laborers, middle-income craft professionals all by kinship networks, racial ethnic norms, connections. immigration industrialization threatened upend these informal placement systems, however, collective gaze turned presumed means which entry new economy could be mediated. book’s second section covers attempts progressive reformers elevate “unskilled” through occupational training, later sections address rise fall industrial unions, concurrent feminization certain subsequently “pink-collar” roles, ways expanding ladder leveraged credentials regulate access upper echelons work. Throughout each section, keeps reader’s focused contested nature emerging processes translating learning vocational success people who able take advantage them.The most distilled support challenge comes those describe covenants circumscribed prospects city’s workers. Black Bostonians, example, attended higher rates than white peers attained literacy considerably immigrants, but they nevertheless restricted entering many lucrative lines Patronage politics represented other side same coin. Ward bosses used public-sector jobs reward supporters retain power, channeling Irish city much proportion unskilled population. cases, influence extra-educational forces regulating impact (or lack thereof) stark.While argument alone engender easily dispensed with, does highlight nontrivial instances opportunities individuals status. For corporate developed, trained participants office sales found helping thousands second-generation immigrants women achieve upward mobility placed graduates growing ranks But observation neither opportunity nor necessarily translates either individual advancement one (e.g., Grubb & Lazerson, 2004), readers may wonder whether book-length journey necessary make point.The deeper value Trap ultimately detailed picture it presents sectors institutions leverage improve worker expand given vocations. To end, greater pains have been taken help sense histories respect persistent questions theory policy. contains scant engagement conceptual discourse purpose function outside motivations espoused implied historical actors. alludes some scholarship, situating within debate human capital credentialist orientations book, frameworks largely fade view after introduction, core mostly explicating power dynamics regulated defined turn-of-the-century (For interested pointed analysis equality, Danielle Allen’s 2016Education Equality thoughtful engaging.)Nevertheless, educators, policy makers, advocates likely find account competing interests late-nineteenth-century valuable snapshot place emerge reading sensitized key elements educational-vocational pipeline emerged. Likewise, while cognizant respectful lives improved pursuits kinds, succeeds cautionary tale would-be inclined uncritically repeat bromides egalitarian uplift Understanding lessons contemporary audiences requires amount extrapolation. And offers plenty clear summary analysis, there room what should away terms aims. That space debate—and interesting corpus mixed-methods research emerges—makes worthy consideration interest developing deep nuanced understandings complex work, society.