A real-life dystopian scenario is gradually manifesting in classrooms across the United States.
Vanessa Wingord, a YouTuber delving into the “darker aspects of technology,” highlights this in a recent video. She, along with teachers featured in the clip, discusses the challenges young children are facing with reading. Some struggle significantly, while many educators are opting to leave their jobs due to the influence of AI and technology in education.
One teacher, featured in Wingord’s video, argues that AI shouldn’t be likened to a calculator. She explains that prior to AI, students learned to reason through problems first, using calculators as helpers later on. Now, however, kids aren’t even able to focus long enough to grasp basic math concepts. They see it as pointless since AI can handle everything.
“Let me clarify, we’re not afraid of AI because we dislike technology, but because we’re watching critical thinking fade away,” the teacher expressed in the video.
“Back in high school, our math teachers insisted we shouldn’t rely on calculators; we needed to understand the calculations. And guess what? I always have a calculator handy now.
But I realize that’s not an apples-to-apples comparison because after you learn math, calculators just assist. AI is there before students even grasp how to tackle problems. What we’re witnessing is that students seem increasingly unable to handle any intellectual discomfort, and that’s alarming.”
There’s a notion that much of what is taught in schools can feel irrelevant. Real-life experiences often provide richer learning than sitting in a classroom. Some might argue that the math curriculum should focus more on personal finance—like how to manage a budget. Sure, exceptional students should have access to advanced topics like calculus, but really, many might never need that. I mean, if you plan to use math in your career, it would be wise to learn the basics of finance in high school or college. Financial systems are complex these days, leaving many adults, myself included, struggling to navigate them.
However, seemingly “useless” math lessons play a role in fostering critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and other soft skills. Tackling challenging math problems can help build kids’ confidence and self-worth. Engaging with difficult subjects like mathematics can carry psychological benefits we can’t overlook. Yet, as kids gravitate toward technology and AI, they risk losing these essential soft skills, especially during crucial developmental years.
If they rely heavily on AI from a young age, it may lead to lasting habits into adulthood. They might miss out on learning how to think independently or appreciate the benefits of reflective walking for creativity. Instead, they risk becoming passive, easily swayed by the readily available information around them. Technology doesn’t just stifle thought and creativity; it can also inhibit action.
Interestingly, some Silicon Valley executives—who have a hand in creating this technology—restrict their own children’s access to it. They understand its potential dangers, recognizing the addictive properties it holds, similar to gambling machines. They are aware it can obstruct emotional and cognitive growth.
But for the rest of us, this is a concern we all must face. In the future, what we currently consider basic—like books, art classes, and summer camps—might become rarities. AI could serve a limited segment of society, like medical professionals, while others treat it merely as an advanced search tool for creating content. For kids, though, it risks replacing important learning and even childhood experiences.
