Three developments are encouraging. First, the Obama Administration’s new focus on early childhood development directs overdue public attention to our need to get creative here. It will not do to simply increase funding and enlarge the number of slots if “old wine” is going to get poured into the “bottle.” An opportunity exists to add futuristics to Headstart and related programs as never before, and thereby help whet the appetite of young learners for more such “far out” material throughout the rest of their formal schooling. Their expectations can give change agents just the back up long needed in the effort to modernize schooling
The second development involves advances rapidly being made in off-campus schooling, especially of the computer-based variety. More and more young learners are being challenged by high-quality courses on the Internet, and as Higher Education gets on board, the entire matter could achieve ever-higher levels of quality, variety, and popularity. An opportunity exists to develop engaging and rewarding courses in Futuristics, and in the futures of this, that, and the other thing.
Finally, the third encouraging development involves the Charter School Movement. Its shakeout period would seem over, and the organizations still standing appear ready to deliver on the potential always inherent in the form. It is time to open Charter Schools nationwide with an explicit commitment to Futuristics, the missing link in the spectrum of school foci that this Movement should be making available to the public.