Queens High School Bans Keyboards to Curb AI Cheating

In a move aimed at combating the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools for cheating, Townsend Harris High School in Queens, New York has announced that students will no longer be allowed to type their summer reading essays at home. Instead, they must now complete the graded assignment by hand during the first weeks of September.

The school's English teacher, Brian Sweeney, explained that the policy change is a response to the "too much use of artificial intelligence in the past." By requiring students to handwrite their essays in class, the school hopes to get a more authentic representation of their work and prevent the use of AI-generated content.

However, the new rule has faced criticism from some students, who argue that it unfairly lumps all students together and could make the assignment more about speed than actual comprehension. One incoming student expressed her preference for at-home assignments, stating that the new policy "brings a problem to people who struggle with writing at a faster pace."

The issue of AI-driven cheating has become a growing concern in classrooms nationwide. A recent survey found that 97% of 2,000 high school and college students have used tools like ChatGPT. This has left both students and teachers scrambling to navigate the inconsistent rules and enforcement around the use of AI in academic work.

As schools grapple with this challenge, Townsend Harris' crackdown on keyboard use represents a controversial but potentially necessary step to maintain academic integrity. While some argue that the school should focus on teaching students how to use AI responsibly, others, like tutoring director Frances Kweller, believe that measures like this are "a reality" that students need to learn to navigate.