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Retooling America's Educational System
Removing the Stigmas and Discriminatory Practices Against Career Technical Education
by Gordon L. Love
Pub Date
Aug 26 2025
| Archive Date
Sep 01 2025
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Description
Retooling America’s Educational System is a compelling call to action from an insider who has witnessed firsthand the cracks in our nation’s educational foundation, namely the steadfast and one-sided push for college education. Drawing on years of experience, the author exposes the deep-rooted inequities inhibiting technical and trade education.
This book shines a spotlight on real-world solutions, including a successful School-to-Registered Apprenticeship Program that transformed student outcomes—from just 50% job placement to an astounding 98%. Through this and other case studies, readers will see the potential of a fully integrated Y-track system that prepares students not only for college, but for life.
Exploring the impacts of funding gaps, union dynamics, and Right-to-Work legislation, Retooling America’s Educational System reveals how current policies are perpetuating inequality for students with trade-oriented skills—and what we can do to fix it.
Retooling America’s Educational System is a compelling call to action from an insider who has witnessed firsthand the cracks in our nation’s educational foundation, namely the steadfast and one-sided...
Description
Retooling America’s Educational System is a compelling call to action from an insider who has witnessed firsthand the cracks in our nation’s educational foundation, namely the steadfast and one-sided push for college education. Drawing on years of experience, the author exposes the deep-rooted inequities inhibiting technical and trade education.
This book shines a spotlight on real-world solutions, including a successful School-to-Registered Apprenticeship Program that transformed student outcomes—from just 50% job placement to an astounding 98%. Through this and other case studies, readers will see the potential of a fully integrated Y-track system that prepares students not only for college, but for life.
Exploring the impacts of funding gaps, union dynamics, and Right-to-Work legislation, Retooling America’s Educational System reveals how current policies are perpetuating inequality for students with trade-oriented skills—and what we can do to fix it.
A Note From the Publisher
Gordon L. Love brings over thirty-five years of experience in career technical education as an educator, tradesman, and program developer. With a background in architectural design and carpentry, he has taught across multiple states, including at Chicago’s Hines Veterans Hospital and in Wyoming’s Building Trades program, where he also coached football and wrestling. In Michigan, he spent fifteen years leading the Work-Based Learning placement office at Kent Career Technical Center, helping students transition from school to registered apprenticeships. Love holds a BS in industrial education, a master’s in career technical education and administration, and is a certified Global Career Development Facilitator specializing in career education and assessment. His lifelong passion is helping young people discover their unique paths through meaningful education and training.
Gordon L. Love brings over thirty-five years of experience in career technical education as an educator, tradesman, and program developer. With a background in architectural design and carpentry, he...
A Note From the Publisher
Gordon L. Love brings over thirty-five years of experience in career technical education as an educator, tradesman, and program developer. With a background in architectural design and carpentry, he has taught across multiple states, including at Chicago’s Hines Veterans Hospital and in Wyoming’s Building Trades program, where he also coached football and wrestling. In Michigan, he spent fifteen years leading the Work-Based Learning placement office at Kent Career Technical Center, helping students transition from school to registered apprenticeships. Love holds a BS in industrial education, a master’s in career technical education and administration, and is a certified Global Career Development Facilitator specializing in career education and assessment. His lifelong passion is helping young people discover their unique paths through meaningful education and training.
Available Editions
| EDITION |
Paperback |
| ISBN |
9798888247891 |
| PRICE |
$14.95 (USD)
|
| PAGES |
92
|
Available on NetGalley
NetGalley Reader (PDF)
NetGalley Shelf App (PDF)
Send to Kindle (PDF)
Download (PDF)
Additional Information
Available Editions
| EDITION |
Paperback |
| ISBN |
9798888247891 |
| PRICE |
$14.95 (USD)
|
| PAGES |
92
|
Available on NetGalley
NetGalley Reader (PDF)
NetGalley Shelf App (PDF)
Send to Kindle (PDF)
Download (PDF)
Average rating from 3 members
Featured Reviews
Educator 761784
This is a very informative book. I plan on reviewing this book during the school year to help me in my teaching. Thank you for the opportunity to review this book.
MariLynn P, Reviewer
With college enrollment on the decline and a national shortage of skilled workers, Retooling America’s Educational System by Gordon L. Love arrives as a timely and necessary call to action. A cabinetmaker-turned-educator and CTE leader, Love draws from his rich experience to critique the current K-12 system’s overemphasis on college preparation — a path that doesn’t fit or serve a significant portion of students.
Love proposes a Y-track model that elevates career and technical education (CTE) alongside traditional academic pathways. Through compelling anecdotes and policy insights, he makes a strong case for treating students as “products” and employers as “customers,” with schools and families forming the crucial bridge between them.
Ideal for CTE educators seeking to align their programs with community needs, this book also serves as a thought-provoking read for administrators, school board members, and policymakers. While the book relies heavily on Love’s own experiences, its central message — that our educational priorities need urgent retooling — is both persuasive and practical.
Featured Reviews
Educator 761784
This is a very informative book. I plan on reviewing this book during the school year to help me in my teaching. Thank you for the opportunity to review this book.
MariLynn P, Reviewer
With college enrollment on the decline and a national shortage of skilled workers, Retooling America’s Educational System by Gordon L. Love arrives as a timely and necessary call to action. A cabinetmaker-turned-educator and CTE leader, Love draws from his rich experience to critique the current K-12 system’s overemphasis on college preparation — a path that doesn’t fit or serve a significant portion of students.
Love proposes a Y-track model that elevates career and technical education (CTE) alongside traditional academic pathways. Through compelling anecdotes and policy insights, he makes a strong case for treating students as “products” and employers as “customers,” with schools and families forming the crucial bridge between them.
Ideal for CTE educators seeking to align their programs with community needs, this book also serves as a thought-provoking read for administrators, school board members, and policymakers. While the book relies heavily on Love’s own experiences, its central message — that our educational priorities need urgent retooling — is both persuasive and practical.
