Teachers call for balance between learning and artificial intelligence

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has introduced a plan titled “Devices Down, Eyes Up, Hands-On: 10 Points to Boost Teaching and Learning in the AI Era,” aiming to balance the needs of public schools, students, and artificial intelligence.
The plan includes a screen ban for students in pre-K through second grade and an immediate halt to the use of student-facing AI in elementary schools.
AFT president Randi Weingarten emphasizes the loss of critical thinking skills among children due to excessive screen time and expresses a desire to find a balance in leveraging technology while mitigating its harms.
The plan does not call for an outright ban on AI or devices like Chromebooks, but rather seeks to manage their use effectively in education.
It advocates for establishing safety and privacy standards for AI usage in schools and highlights the importance of focusing on the well-being of students and their families.
AFT criticizes the Trump administration’s policies, accusing it of prioritizing privatization and deregulation over the genuine well-being and educational success of children.
Weingarten stresses the need for students to learn collaborative problem-solving skills to prepare them for complex challenges.