Teachers Clash Over AI in Classrooms as States Mandate AI Tools for Young Learners

High‑school English teachers are publicly divided on artificial‑intelligence use: Rod Naquin of Louisiana argues that refusing AI misses a transformative chance for education, while Deb Eaton of Philadelphia says she barred all AI applications in her courses to protect students’ ability to process information and find their own voice. Meanwhile, New Mexico’s Public Education Department has required every public school to implement the AI system Amira for reading assessments, dyslexia screenings and tutoring of kindergarten through second grade, prompting parents and teachers to question how children’s voice recordings are stored and who can access them.

The vendor’s chief executive has said student data will not be sold and that recordings will be deleted monthly unless districts request longer retention. Educators and experts continue to debate whether seamless AI tools help or hinder lasting learning and the teacher‑student relationship.