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New York City students returned to public school in September facing a on using generative artificial intelligence, including chatbots and tutors, in grades 2K through 8, as well as restrictions on screen time: none whatsoever for the youngest grades, a maximum of 30 minutes a day for grades 3 to 5 and a 45-minute limit for grades 6 to 8.

When I asked families subscribed to my 4,200-plus member mailing list how they felt about participating in America鈥檚 most sweeping classroom technology ban, the majority who responded were enthusiastic. 

鈥淚 am thrilled they implemented this and honestly wish it were for longer than a year,鈥� wrote Emily C., a Manhattan second-grade parent who spoke for many. 鈥淚 am hopeful after they see the positive effects of the moratorium for K-8th graders, it will be extended.鈥�

Nonetheless, even those who agreed in principle expressed concerns. 

Parents of younger children reacted to the AI ban based on what they鈥檇 heard and read about its dangers. Those with students in higher grades referenced more concrete experiences in forming their opinions.

A mother who asked to be called JW, for instance, was open to teachers being able to use AI in line with the that permits it for lesson planning, translation and communication with families. She wrote, 鈥淲hen my student had a first-year teacher, I observed AI was very helpful for the teacher to quickly and efficiently create the weekly newsletter. Some parents knew she was using AI, my student saw her using AI, yet the teacher was overwhelmed with new curriculum, new job, learning to run a classroom, etc., so I thought her using AI in that situation was resourceful and helped reduce ‘parent noise’ from her inbox.鈥�

Data engineer, dad of three and PTA co-president Luigi Kapaj saw both sides of the issue.

鈥淚 am against the screen ban. I don’t understand how teachers could not address the in-class distraction the same as any other in-class distraction such as talking or passing notes where it is a problem,鈥� he said, then qualified, 鈥淭he problem with AI in classrooms come down to two major issues: It is more harmful than helpful, and it is often wrong. A kid in my daughter鈥檚 class used AI on a phone during a test without getting caught, and that kid got the lowest grade. This is worse than just cheating, which prevents a proper assessment. AI is preventing kids from learning. Putting all tests online where it is alongside access to AI is a formula for disaster. AI may be unreliable in some fields, good enough in others, but it鈥檚 horrifying in things like education, where errors have profound consequences.鈥�

Another NYC mom, though, sees genuine harm in keeping children away from technology.

鈥淭hey have taken the AI ban way too far,鈥� she asserted. 鈥淭hey are actually hurting education. They have taken away amazing programs like Delta Math. When my daughter didn鈥檛 understand a math concept, [Delta] had great videos and actual examples. Now, in art class (her strength), they have taken away computers to minimize screen time, and now it will take even longer to get reference material for class to share among the kids. Yet they want our kids sitting on screens for hours at a time to complete their stupid and state testing. Where is the reasoning in that? Yes, there are some schools that use an excessive amount of screen time and should be monitored and enforced, but don鈥檛 hurt the kids and the school that is doing it the right way!鈥� 

Queens鈥� Amelia M. even believes the ban could hinder her child鈥檚 future.

鈥淢y son is in eighth grade and told me today that they aren鈥檛 using computers at all in class any more due to the 45-minute limit on screen time, though for the past three years there was use in every class and they鈥檝e been taught how to work with the technology (Google slides, doc, sheets).鈥� She worried, 鈥淭his same group of kids (born in 2013) is having to pivot again. They must learn a new skill set or way of studying (which of course may be valuable), but is this preparing them for high school and beyond? To skip a year of technology use altogether (which CAN be used without AI) 鈥� will this set them back as ninth graders?鈥�

鈥淚 feel that those of us who have young children right now have an incredible opportunity to learn from those whose kids are slightly older, who were victims of the pandemic-era damage of bottomless screen time,鈥� summarized MT, who has children in pre-K and second grade. 鈥淲e need to redefine expectations around how teachers use screens and technology in a one-to-many classroom context, especially for younger children.鈥�

Only time will prove whether parental hopes 鈥� or their fears 鈥� will come true.

But with NYC being the largest school district in the U.S., it鈥檚 inevitable that the data it generates this year will be used by other districts as they craft their own future policies. 

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