Featured story: "The Apprenticeship Ambivalence"
Given America’s rapidly changing landscape in both workforce and education, a formal apprenticeship system might benefit more people than a four-year college plan does. Here’s why.
Dear Friends,
Our current issue on “The Future of Craftsmanship” encompasses a number of themes that not only are close to my own heart, they are at the very core of our mission here, and worth revisiting often. One such recurring topic how the way we educate young people has failed—not only to serve us as a society, but also in its responsibility to adapt to changing times.
On the eve of a National Skills Summit in Washington, D.C. (some of which can be watched virtually), this week’s feature story, originally published back in 2018, explores America’s approach to apprenticeships. The story looks in particular at how poorly we perform on this front in comparison to other countries, and why a robust culture of apprenticeship in this country is worthy of revival.
So much has changed in the past 5 years that the original story needed a renovation, which I dove into over the past few weeks. To find out what I learned, I offer you “The Apprenticeship Ambivalence,” written (and now updated) by yours truly. I hope you’ll find it thought-provoking. And for those who want to know more about apprenticeship programs and opportunities that do exist in the U.S., don’t miss the new sidebar.
In other news, we’re working on some brand new content that we’re excited to roll out to you soon, as part of our our forthcoming reader-supported publication here on Substack. This won’t change our regular weekly stories or our magazine archives, which have always been offered free of charge and free of ads, and will remain so. We’re simply adding another layer of rich, unique content that we hope our readers will be inspired to support. More on all of this very soon.
Our Spring issue will continue through the end of May. Each Friday until then, as is our custom, we will release a feature story, short article, mini-documentary, photo essay, or podcast that relates to our mission — to “create a world built to last.” Along with stories that speak to each issue’s theme, we always have works on other topics, so please, stay tuned.
In the meantime, I hope you'll always find something intriguing to read, watch, or listen to within our pages. We welcome your thoughts via email, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Thank you for reading and sharing our stories, for donating to our cause when you can, and for being such a loyal part of the Craftsmanship community.
Be well,
Todd Oppenheimer
Editor & Publisher, Craftsmanship Quarterly
Spring 2023: The Future of Craftsmanship
Look at almost anything you own of real quality, and you immediately see its maker's commitment to beauty, functionality, and longevity. Those values, which in our mind define works of craftsmanship, are being aggressively tested these days, as more and more material goods exhibit shoddy workmanship, and are not made to last. The trash this creates not only damages our environment, it also erodes the principles of excellence that advance us, both individually and collectively. In this issue, we introduce you to some brave souls and organizations that are fighting to preserve, and expand, the intelligence in our hands.