by Ivan Johnson, Middle School Program Head

Throughout my career, progressive educators have talked about the need to reinvent education because we recognized that traditional educational structures were designed for a society and workforce that no longer exists. For years, I heard conference speakers warn that by 2030, the jobs of the future would be unrecognizable, demanding a new approach to education. Now, we have arrived at that future. With shifts in global power dynamics, climate change reshaping our world, and AI transforming the way we work, those predictions have become reality. What remains true is that education must continue to adapt.

At Friends School, we focus on building the capacities that truly prepare students for an uncertain future—creativity, critical thinking, engagement, and empathy. These are the skills that allow youth to be flexible and resilient in the face of change, and our teachers—some of the best in their field—foster these skills every day. 

As we head into MLK weekend, I hope we find time to connect with what it means to be human in an ever-changing world. While we may encounter many of Dr. King’s inspiring quotes about dreams and unity this weekend, I invite you to read an article he wrote at age 18 for Morehouse College’s student newspaper, The Maroon Tiger, in February 1947. In it, King reflects on the purpose of education and calls for a new, progressive framework, writing, “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” (1)

Whether through reflection, service, action, or time spent with loved ones, I encourage everyone to embody the values that Dr. King championed—critical thinking, empathy, and a commitment to progress—just as we strive to instill in our students every day.

(1) King, Martin Luther, Jr. “The Purpose of Education.” The Maroon Tiger, Feb. 1947, kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/purpose-education.