Written By: Birkilee Cochrane
Many would agree that Artificial Intelligence or AI can be used to spark creativity and might even be an important factor of everyday life. But one issue that may be less known is that AI can heavily influence the education industry with concerns of cheating and AI generated essays/projects. Many apps like Photomath, Gauth AI, and Meta AI are all free and are an easy way for students to solve math equations, write essays and even do projects. Many of these apps have an option to allow the students to “simplify” what they generated in a way it seems human.
Matthew Adkins, an English teacher at SHS, said, “I think students need to be aware that AI isn't going anywhere; it's here to stay. It's more about figuring out ways to use it appropriately and use it effectively.”
He said it's also about understanding the pros and cons whether students go to college or straight into the workforce.
“I tell students that they should always ask teachers and do research on how to use AI in order to truly understand what it can do now if they are worried whether or not it should be used in certain situations. Learning about it is like trying to hit a moving target. There will always be something new technologically with AI so if students want an update on it, they should do some research or follow classroom expectations and/or workplace expectations so there doesn't have to be too much confusion on their end.”
There is a common agreement from teachers that AI cannot replace their job and that a teacher will be required to teach students, even if AI continues to get more advanced.
Monika Spaulding, a journalism/media teacher at SHS, said, “I don't think you can replace a good teacher, but I do think we are going to have to accept that AI is here and isn't going anywhere. I recently attended a conference where AI was discussed as a tool to use in the education field. I think there are some aspects of it that can be really useful and time saving.”
But one of the many concerns from teachers is that students that rely more and more on AI may reduce the teacher-to-student interactions and relationships and take away from the social-emotional aspects of learning. If those interactions diminish, students’ social skills and emotional development will suffer. Even the bond between student and teacher will be affected.
Amy Whitlatch, a business teacher at SHS, said, “While AI has the potential to significantly change how education is delivered, I believe there are important aspects of teaching that will continue to require the human touch, even as AI plays a larger role.”
She explained that educators do much more than deliver information—they build relationships, offer emotional support, and adapt lessons to the unique needs of each student.
“AI can assist with personalized learning, grading, or even administrative tasks, but it’s unlikely to fully replace the human elements that are crucial in education,” she said. “Moreover, educators can use AI as a tool to enhance their work. It might handle routine tasks or provide additional resources, freeing up teachers to focus on fostering critical thinking, creativity and interpersonal skills, which are harder for machines to replicate.”
Even outside of the classroom, students still have their worries about AI and their future.
Sophomore Chloe Snyder said, “Yes, I do worry about AI replacing jobs. More automation replacing jobs doesn’t mean people get to do less work. The horses put out of a job by cars didn’t get to focus on their passions. They were sent to glue factories. I worry that the middle class will continue to disappear as many technical jobs are taken over by machinery. I also think that, in the future, there will be doctors that get their degrees with ChatGPT, and they could mess up your body by prescribing you based on an AI doctor’s diagnosis. I really hope that AI never really takes off like people think it will.”
Even at a young age, students understand how AI is going to affect their future, both in positive and negative ways.
Sophomore Abagale Elliott, who wants to go into the field of journalism, said, “While I don’t believe that AI will ever fully replace me, I do know that the options will be more limited for me as I age. The real root of my worry is that people will use whatever is more accessible to them. This includes writing and news sources. While I may have less of an impact as a journalist and fewer options, I will still have a better writing style with fewer mistakes, especially in scenarios where I am reporting on something I have seen firsthand. AI will never be able to recall feelings and emotions that it experiences while writing because it does not have feelings.”
Overall, teachers and students both feel as though AI will not directly replace their jobs and roles, but do recognize that AI can have a negative impact on their future careers. Raising awareness about AI is more important than ever because it is going to be an inevitable factor in many future careers.