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Education·The Trace·Automated dual reading·Published 2026-07-12

AI in the classroom prompts tide of concern from US parents and experts

In October, Kelly Clancy’s son received an assignment in sixth grade at a middle school in Brooklyn, New York, to create a science experiment and then ask Google Gemini, an artificial intelligence chatbot, for feedback, she said. Clancy, who has three children in New York City public schools, told the teacher that the bot “is something that just teaches kids that they can have machines do the thinking for them”, instead of suggesting: “Let’s talk to your partners. What about the science experiment could you impr…

TRV-2026-0087JournalismPermanent record — cite & verify
Trace impact reading

Contested: both sides are scored from claims and sources, not community votes.

P 54The P score combines the specificity and measured human impact of the problem claim, the strength of this Trace’s sources, and problem-side source support across the same sector.G 58The G score combines the specificity and measured human impact of the gain claim, the strength of this Trace’s sources, and gain-side source support across the same sector.
AI in the classroom prompts tide of concern from US parents and experts
The quick read

In October, Kelly Clancy’s son received an assignment in sixth grade at a middle school in Brooklyn, New York, to create a science experiment and then ask Google Gemini, an artificial intelligence chatbot, for feedback, she said. Clancy, who has three children in New York City public schools, told the teacher that the bot “is something that just teaches kids that they can have machines do the thinking for them”, instead of suggesting: “Let’s talk to your partners.

What about the science experiment could you improve?” Clancy also founded Parents for AI Caution in Educational Spaces, a group pushing the city to institute a two-year moratorium on using AI in its public schools. The New Yorkers are among a growing number of parents and child development experts across the country raising concerns about AI in schools.

Main points
  • In October, Kelly Clancy’s son received an assignment in sixth grade at a middle school in Brooklyn, New York, to create a science experiment and then ask Google Gemini, an artificial intelligence chatbot, for feedback, she said.
  • Clancy, who has three children in New York City public schools, told the teacher that the bot “is something that just teaches kids that they can have machines do the thinking for them”, instead of suggesting: “Let’s talk to your partners.
  • The New Yorkers are among a growing number of parents and child development experts across the country raising concerns about AI in schools.
Gain

What about the science experiment could you improve?” Clancy also founded Parents for AI Caution in Educational Spaces, a group pushing the city to institute a two-year moratorium on using AI in its public schools.

Problem

The New Yorkers are among a growing number of parents and child development experts across the country raising concerns about AI in schools.

What this doesn’t fix

Automated evidence review: this reading is limited to the cited source set and may change as contradicting evidence or broader outcome data enters the record.

Sources

The debate