Why Banning AI in Schools Misses the Point

AI is the next big tech wave. Full stop. It’s already transforming how businesses operate, how people work, and how ideas get created. And yet, just as this shift accelerates, many schools are doubling down on bans. Blocking generative AI tools. Discouraging their use. Handing out detentions. 

I get the instinct. Really, I do. Educators worry that kids will over-rely on AI instead of learning to think for themselves. But let’s be honest: banning AI in schools isn’t going to stop students from using it. It’s just going to make them worse at using it.

This Feels Like the Late ’90s All Over Again

If you’re old enough to remember dial-up, as I am, you might recall when the internet first started appearing in classrooms. Some schools welcomed it. Others banned it, fearful it would “replace learning.” Fast forward, and the web became an essential part of education and life.

That’s where we are with AI right now. But instead of a clunky search engine, today’s students have access to tools that can summarize a novel, explain a math concept, or help brainstorm a science fair project in seconds.

This isn’t a fad. It’s foundational tech. The students of today will use AI tools in nearly every future workplace. And if they don’t learn how to use them responsibly now, when will they?

Yes, There Are Risks. But Bans Aren’t the Answer

Let’s talk facts.

• Schools are discouraging AI use. A recent EdWeek survey found that 60 percent of teachers say their districts haven’t provided clear guidance on AI. So many just play it safe and shut it down.
• Major districts blocked it. New York City and Los Angeles both banned ChatGPT across their networks last year, only to reverse course once they realized it had real learning potential.
• Students are using it anyway. According to a Teen Vogue article, about 70 percent of high schoolers admitted to using AI for schoolwork in the 2023–24 year. Teachers? Many relied on detection tools instead of conversations about appropriate use.
• Parents are suing schools. One Massachusetts high school gave a student detention and blocked him from the National Honor Society after he used AI to outline a paper. The family is now in court, arguing the policy was vague and inconsistent.

The fear is real, but so is the opportunity. Banning AI sends the wrong message: that we’re afraid of the tools students will absolutely need to understand to succeed in tomorrow’s world.

What Schools Should Be Doing Instead

We don’t need AI bans. We need AI fluency.

That means teaching kids:

• What AI is and how it works (at a high level)
• Where it can help and where it can hurt
• How to evaluate AI output for bias, inaccuracy, or lazy thinking
• How to declare and cite AI usage in a paper, presentation, or project

Some schools are getting this right. Ohio State now requires all students to complete AI fluency courses. MIT’s RAISE initiative has reached over a million students globally, teaching not just usage but ethics. And forward-thinking districts like Uxbridge High are holding AI parent nights to build understanding at home.

We need more of this, not less.

Parents, You’ve Got a Role Too

This isn’t all on schools.

If you’re a parent, your kid is probably already using AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or Google Gemini, even if you think they’re just texting. A 2024 study cited in Chalkbeat found only 14 percent of parents had discussed responsible AI use with their kids. That’s a problem.

Here’s what parents can do:

• Talk about it. Not in a “don’t cheat” way. More like: “How are you using it? Is it helping? Can you tell when it’s wrong?”
• Set boundaries. For example, using AI to outline an essay? Fair game. Having it write your final draft? Not so much.
• Model healthy use. Show them how you use AI (if you do). Let them see you question it. Let them see you not rely on it.
• Push your school. Ask for transparency. Ask if teachers are trained. Ask what the AI policy is and whether it encourages learning or punishes curiosity.

Final Word

Let’s call this what it is: AI is the calculator of the modern era. We don’t ban calculators. We teach kids when and how to use them.

Blanket bans don’t prepare kids for the future, they leave them unprepared for it. AI isn’t going away. The best thing we can do, whether we’re educators, parents, or leaders, is meet it head-on.

Teach kids to use it. Teach them to question it. Teach them to own their ideas.

Because the real danger isn’t that students will use AI. It’s that they’ll use it blindly.

If you liked what you read here, follow us at Cortico-X for more insights at the intersection of experience, technology, and transformation. And if your organization is looking to bolster its AI readiness, from responsible use frameworks to team training, we’d love to help. Let’s talk.