Should Students Be Allowed to Use AI Tools for Schoolwork?

Lexile: 1020 | Grade: 8

Passage

As artificial intelligence (AI) tools like chatbots and writing assistants become more common, schools are debating whether students should be allowed to use them for assignments. Some teachers worry that AI will encourage laziness or cheating. However, with proper guidelines, AI tools can be valuable educational resources that help students learn more deeply and prepare for the future.

AI tools can offer students real-time feedback, help them organize ideas, and even explain difficult concepts. For example, a student struggling with an essay might use an AI tool to brainstorm or get grammar suggestions—much like a digital tutor. When used responsibly, these tools don’t replace thinking; they enhance it.

Critics argue that AI tools make it too easy for students to copy answers without doing the work themselves. This is a valid concern, but the problem is not the tool—it’s how it’s used. Calculators were once controversial in classrooms, yet today they’re standard for learning math. The key is to teach students when and how to use AI ethically.

Banning AI completely may leave students unprepared for the modern world, where AI is already shaping careers in writing, science, medicine, and business. Instead of avoiding it, schools should help students understand how to work with it wisely. Learning how to collaborate with smart tools is part of becoming a smart thinker.

In conclusion, AI is not a shortcut—it’s a new kind of skill. Schools have an opportunity to teach digital responsibility while giving students access to powerful learning tools. Rather than fear the future, we should teach students to face it with curiosity and control.