More than ever we need to cultivate critical, creative thinking in students.

Katie, yes, we need to restore hope to our society today more than ever.  We need to be able to hope for a better future.  One way to get there, as you suggest, is to encourage critical thinking in our students.  This writer would call it creative, innovative thinking.  It is the same idea.  To progress, we need students who in time will be able to "think outside the box" in order to make our world a better place for all.  You "hit the nail on the head" here good and hard.  Thank you!   Dr. Rux