The Classroom Battleground of AI
The swift arrival of artificial intelligence in schools has turned classrooms into spaces filled with contradictions and confusion.
At the end of the school year, a student asked, “Why am I learning AI if it’s going to eventually take my job?” The honest reply: “I wonder the same thing about mine.”
While students enjoy their summer break, Big Tech is busy promoting AI as a “homework buddy” and “personal tutor” for students, and as “teaching assistants” for educators. Yet, this push often undermines education itself, sending conflicting messages that raise serious concerns.
AI in Schools: The Current Reality
Some schools in Texas and Arizona have already embraced AI to “teach” students, with teachers reduced to “guides” rather than subject experts. One senior even said she preferred AI because it was available at any hour, unlike teachers who responded only the next day. Luis von Ahn, CEO of Duolingo, recently stated that AI is much more scalable than human teachers. This shift risks turning schools primarily into child care centers.
Even the government is involved. A recent executive order promotes AI use in schools, claiming early exposure will inspire curiosity and creativity. But this pressure is not just from policymakers—education websites have quickly embraced AI tools, marketing them as time-savers for overwhelmed educators, shifting focus away from subject expertise.
Mixed Messages and the Real Consequences
Educators face a dilemma: they are encouraged or required to use AI, yet criticized when they do. The real issue is that teachers struggle to teach the problem-solving skills students need while an entire generation increasingly relies on AI for their creativity and imagination. The result? Test scores drop, anxiety and depression rise.
Meanwhile, AI is sold to schools as a simple, personalized learning tool—just another classroom supply like pencil cases. Students know better. They rely on tools like Grammarly for grammar checks, ChatGPT to summarize readings, and dozens of AI apps to write essays. Many admit to using AI to cheat, yet they receive constant messages to use AI as “writing coaches” and “study buddies.”
Where Does Learning Happen Now?
Teaching has always involved pushing students while they resist, with learning happening somewhere in between. But today, where does that middle ground exist? Will schools turn into video games disguised as education?
Educators face pressure from all sides. If they don’t teach writing, they’re accused of failing communication skills. If they don’t teach reading, critical thinking is questioned. If business skills are missing, workforce readiness is doubted. Now, if AI is absent from the curriculum, educators risk being labeled as unprepared for the future—a future that many fear will take their students’ jobs.
Lessons from Literature
In one freshman English class, students read All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque. They connected with a passage describing soldiers as “forlorn like children, and experienced like old men,” feeling lost and alienated. This reflected how students might feel—estranged from themselves in a world increasingly shaped by technology.
The true purpose of literature is to help students understand themselves and others better, growing empathy and compassion. This is where real learning lies.
The Front Line of Education
Today’s students find themselves caught in the crossfire between educators and Big Tech. The classroom, once a sacred place for human learning and risk-taking, has become a battleground. The adults fight over the future of education while kids are stuck in the middle.
In Remarque’s sequel, The Road Back, a soldier asks, “Why can’t you let the kids enjoy the few years that are left to them, while they need still know nothing about it?” This question highlights a pressing concern: will schools remain a war zone where students are cut off from their own identities, just as they are beginning to discover who they are?
Final Thoughts for Educators
- Be aware that AI is reshaping classrooms, often in ways that sideline teachers’ expertise.
- Recognize the challenges students face in balancing AI use and genuine learning.
- Focus on fostering critical thinking, empathy, and creativity—skills AI cannot replace.
- Consider integrating AI tools thoughtfully, ensuring they support rather than replace human guidance.
- Stay informed about AI developments to better prepare students for a changing future.
For educators looking to understand how to responsibly include AI in their teaching, Complete AI Training offers courses that explore practical AI skills for education professionals.
Your membership also unlocks:
