Embracing the Future: Education's Critical Transformation
- Lisa Giuliani
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
In this evolving landscape of the 21st century, few voices speak with as much clarity about our educational challenges as Dr. Peter Bishop. His words then still resonate now with what we collectively stand for:
"Social change is real. It has disrupted lives and transformed societies countless times, and today, it is happening more frequently than ever. Yet, our education system is still focused on the past, failing to prepare students for the uncertainties ahead. History and sociology examine the past and analyze societies in static snapshots rather than as ongoing narratives. Economics and political science are fixated on current empirical data rather than the deeper purposes and consequences of the systems shaping our world. Science and technology continue to drive change without always considering its human impact.
The 2020s, like every era before it, will be studied by future historians. But what will they say about us? One troubling possibility is that education, always looking backward, failed to adapt to a rapidly changing world. My purpose has been to create a better world through education. To truly achieve that goal, we must leverage our influence and resources to transform education—shifting its focus from the past to the future, from certainty to adaptability, from memorization to creativity. I am not the one to single-handedly make this change, but I am leading part of it. It is time for educators to follow suit." ~ Peter Bishop
Upon reflection, I've seen firsthand how Peter's vision comes to life when we place young voices at the forefront. As Director of Youth Programming, I've seen what can occur when we stop talking about youth and start listening to them. The insights these young futurists bring to speaking engagements consistently demonstrates that they're not just leaders—they're leading projects using futures literacy tools which gives them that future ready edge to tackle projects for change.
"Inspiring change comes when we create spaces where youth aren't just participants rather true collaborators in reimagining education; Be FutureWise with Teach the Futures Summer Program inspired by our Young Voices Council members class of 2025." - Lisa G
"Today's youth face an onslaught of information and rapid change. FutureWise, the program that has evolved from Peter’s leadership, equips youth with the tools to navigate, discern, and shape the future they want."- Pamela B.
The core team, composed of Lisa Giuliani, Lourdes Rodriguez, Randi Millard, Rosa Alegria, Amna Habiba, Pamela Biery, and Janine Nel, stands with arms wide open. They work alongside Dr. Peter Bishop, to embed futures literacy in schools one student at a time through our growing Young Voices Network, award-winning Young Voices Council, TTF FutureWise certificated teachers and our speaking engagements worldwide.
More young people need these future-thinking skills now. By investing in their projects for change, we prepare them for a better tomorrow and jobs that don't exist yet. These students are learning how to move from change to action by understanding trends, exploring possibilities, and developing strategies for impact. Thinking about the future is a privilege that must be shared widely. This is precisely why we've created pathways for young people to develop these critical skills.
🚀 FutureWISE: A Futures Literacy Summer Course for Youth (Ages 12–18)
Empower your future—starting this summer!
Are you wondering what the future holds? Or better yet—ready to shape it?
FutureWISE by Teach the Future is our flagship summer program that gives young minds the tools to think ahead, dream big, and make better decisions in an uncertain world. Backed by the pioneering work of Dr. Peter Bishop, this course helps students:
✔ Develop critical thinking and leadership skills
✔ Explore multiple futures
✔ Turn uncertainty into opportunity
Ready to become a future-maker?
🔗Tap the link to learn more and sign up! Spots Are Limited!
Let's ensure our students have those skills. Learn more and register at https://www.teachthefuture.org/futurewise.
