When I was young, my mother owned a bookstore. Being in an environment surrounded by books fostered my love for reading, writing, and, by extension, school. I love school. Well, my school specifically because I have freedom to study what I’m interested in, to choose from a wide variety of classes, from philosophy to costume design.
I live in Bedford-Stuyvesant, a large neighborhood in central Brooklyn. Bed-Stuy has a strong sense of community, and I’ve definitely reaped the benefits of that. In Bed-Stuy, life is a constant flow of hellos, block parties, and Saturday mornings outside with my family talking to neighbors.
There are downsides to living in Bed-Stuy too though. When I was a toddler, my mom couldn’t find a neighborhood preschool that she liked so I went to a Montessori school in Midwood, 40 minutes from home. After Montessori, I went to kindergarten at a private school in Brooklyn Heights, where I have been ever since.
I often wish I went to a school in my neighborhood. I love the people, and going to school near home would tie me closer to my community. I also hate that I don’t get to see my neighborhood friends a lot because I’m always in Brooklyn Heights. Something I don’t love about my school is that it’s private. Most families can’t afford to pay thousands of dollars a year to send their children to school, and they shouldn’t be expected to. I hate the idea that there are kids all over the city being denied equal education on the basis of money.
The truth is I think a lot about school. When Bright found me and asked me to write about what school might look like in the future, I wrote up a list to explain some of what’s on my mind.
My 5 Biggest Fears for School in 2050
I see a pristine and cold classroom with robot-like children typing away on the newest MacBooks. Nobody looks up to share a smile with a friend. They type furiously, forgetting how it feels to put pen to paper.
Schools are starting to replace pens and paper with iPads and in-class discussions with slideshows. Sometimes I wish technology was more integrated with learning at my school, but then I realize why it’s deliberately separated. There’s something great about getting a new book, cracking the spine, and flipping through the pages. With technology, everything is fleeting. You can read a book on your iPad while listening to Spotify, making a call, and checking Twitter. There’s a value in slowing down and being with the material you’re reading, free from the distractions of the outside world.
I fear that in the future, private school will be the only option for good education.
Throughout history, we have put up barriers to prevent certain people from attaining knowledge. As it becomes increasingly apparent that the public school system is failing, many families are deciding to send their kids to private school. Good education should be accessible to everyone, but because of the powers that be, money is involved. I wouldn’t be surprised if, in 2050, money is the only way children are able to attend worthwhile schools.
I can see children years from now with their heads bent over a 50-page packet of geometry problems. They’ve never discussed a novel or painted a canvas.
Over the years, schools have experienced budget cuts to English, history, art, language, and music programs. I worry that these cuts will continue and make it impossible to teach these subjects properly. We’re hurrying toward a world where math and science rule, and I’m worried they will rule in schools as well. The humanities teach us about human experience, something everyone can relate to. In English, we read novels and learn about writing and language. These are powerful tools of expression. In history, we learn about the past and how it shapes our future. I love reading documents from thousands of years ago that connect me to worlds I can’t experience. If the ability to think in different ways is taken from students, so is a complete education.
I’m afraid we will continue down this road where schools expect students to all be the same.
Everyone learns in different ways and at different speeds. It’s ridiculous for schools to hold students to the same level. I worry that in the future, teachers will push students to become more like robots: spitting out answers to questions, with no opinions or interesting perspectives on what they’re learning. It won’t be learning at all, just memorization.
My school values learning as exploration rather than a means to an end. I’ve noticed that the focus in a lot of other New York City schools is getting the highest test scores and into the most prestigious colleges. Learning is treated as an obligation, not something that can bring you joy.
My greatest fear for 2050 is that there will be no school at all.
I can see a future where we no longer need schools, and they become a thing of the past. The internet offers access to information in seconds. It has never been easier to teach yourself something. I suspect this will only become easier in the future, and there won’t be much reason to leave your house to learn. I hope this never happens, because the social aspect to school is part of the learning experience.
Navigating friendships and learning how to work with others are lessons I’m learning now, and they are extremely important. We all have to exist together, and we learn that equally in and out of school. Another great thing about learning with others is that we can hear different perspectives. I love that I can read a book chapter and think about it one way, and then come to school and hear a completely different opinion. It pushes me to think and enriches my learning experience.
My Biggest Hopes for School in 2050
Education will be completely free.
One of the greatest things about humans is our ability to learn, and I don’t think there should be a price on that. Placing a cost on learning prevents many people from reaching their full potential—people who might find the cure to cancer, or achieve world peace, or find a way to time travel. In the future, everyone—not just those with the financial means—should have adequate opportunity to cultivate their minds.
Schools will stop putting so much emphasis on testing.
Learning is supposed to be about exploration, but students become afraid to fail when roadblocks like standardized tests are put in their way. We learn, and eventually succeed, through failure. When we make failing a negative, students stop taking risks and finding out all that they have to offer the world.
Schools will teach more skills that prepare students for the outside world.
Students spend a lot of time learning calculus or memorizing the formula for the speed of light — stuffing information into their brains that they may never need later in life. Many aren’t learning economics, self-defense, time management skills, or how to apply for a job. School should prepare students not just for their future professions but also for their lives as a whole.
Students will be given more freedom in what they learn.
Students do much better in school when they are truly interested in what they’re learning. They should take part in choosing what they are taught and be allowed to choose some of their classes.
My biggest hope for schools in 2050 is that it won’t be short-lived for so many children.
In countries like the United States, most people attend school from age four through early adulthood. That is rare or unimaginable in many other countries, where children are pulled out of school too soon to take care of their families or find work to support them. Rushing children into adulthood robs them of the space to grow, develop, and learn. In 2050, I hope every child can complete their education regardless of where they live. As we let more children go without adequate education, we stall our advancement as a whole.
What are your hopes and fears about school in 2050? Please respond, and tag it with “Future of School.”
