
Memories from the Year 2030 is a collection of fictional letters, memos and visual artifacts created by a group of futurists, speculative designers, authors and artists. Read the entire series here.
Memorandum
To: Class of 2031 / PS 3.16, District 2, Brooklyn, NY
From: Principal Alisha Bhagat
CC: Parent-Teacher Association
This vision of the future is inspired by the school closures impacting students in New York City schools. Starting March 16th NYC schools shut down and moved millions of students, parents, and teachers to remote learning. This will continue until the virus is under control and the daily death count begins to drop. As of 4/14/2020 it is unclear when that will happen.
Good morning and welcome to the 2030 School Year from your principal, Ms. Bhagat and the staff of PS 316.
We have sent through orientation packets via social media and traditional email. Please take a moment to review some of the guidelines we are instituting this year to ensure that we are able to provide the most up-to-date educational content for you.
Before we begin, let us observe our customary moment of silence for the many colleagues, classmates, and family members we have lost.
For those of you remaining, congrats survivors, you made it. Let us celebrate our accomplishments and the milestones we have reached. Based on student feedback, we have changed the school mascot to the Tardigrade, micro animals able to survive in extreme conditions. The student government will be crafting a new digital logo for our mascot.
As you know, we have used every pandemic since COVID-19 to recalibrate our curriculum and focus on critical areas. Here are the key items of note:
OUTDOOR TIME: We recommend you wear your PPE at all times when going outside. I do want to point out that those of you who keep wearing the Plague Doctor outfits should knock it off.Since 2020, the amount of public park land available to you in NYC has doubled, but we still recommend safety, even between pandemic events.
DISASTER PROTOCOL: We are fully able to comply with disaster protocol as set out by the state, be it extreme weather or pandemic related. When you are notified of a disaster, please follow the protocol, collect your belongings, and head calmly to your designated meetup point.
MEALS: During this orientation week, in addition to your at home learning devices, you will be issued a box of RTE meals lasting one month. Should another crisis emerge, you will have a sufficient amount of food such that you will not have to leave your home for weeks if needed. And I’m pleased to report that the cafeteria staff has developed delicious shelf-stable dehydrated meals in student-selected flavors, including Nathan’s hot dog, bagel with lox, pizza slice, and churro.
CURRICULUM: We are continuing the move from a set curriculum of required courses to student-directed modules focused on addressing current societal needs. In addition to the core areas of study, we are offering some new electives this year that Juniors and Seniors may select. These include: urban farming, emergency health services, climate science, caregiving, immersive media, and futures studies.
SOCIAL: We will not be bringing back senior prom or any social dances this year. However, we will be allowing “silent discos” where you may dance outside, individually, with proper distancing. Finally, let me remind you of guidance from the NY Department of Health: YOU are your own safest sexual partner. Repeat – you are your own safest partner in this regard. Remember to wash hands before and after engaging in sexual contact with yourself.
As you start your school year, remember, you students are the survivors and it is on you we will depend to rebuild the world, making it more inclusive, safer, and resilient than the past. Continue to adapt, flourish, and make us proud, class of 2031.
Alisha Bhagat is a futurist and senior strategist focusing on the creative use of futures tools for long term positive change particularly around social justice and sustainability issues. She lives with her children and partner in Brooklyn, NY.