Tutt and Merrill argue for limits on AI that replaces student practice
Paige TuttEdutopia editor, coauthor with Stephen Merrill
Tutt and Merrill argue that schools should withhold AI assistance when it replaces the skill students need to practice. Their joint analysis allows narrower uses, including feedback on students' own drafts and comparing summaries with class notes.
“Asking AI to create the summary removes the real work of reorganizing the material from memory.”
Analysis
Where this statement fits
Should schools pause student-facing AI despite Microsoft’s new privacy safeguards?
Microsoft and the National Academy for AI Instruction signed school-AI privacy and safety standards announced with the AFT and UFT on September 9. Fairplay’s Josh Golin welcomes the privacy improvements but calls for a five-year pause on generative AI in schools. New York City’s September 2 policy illustrates a different approach: pause most direct use through eighth grade while allowing restricted high-school pilots. Kristen Gonzalez and Carmen De La Rosa support the younger-grade ban but urge postponement of the pilots until the tools can be properly assessed.
Source and context
Analysis
About this source
The authors distinguish a polished assignment from learning the skills needed to produce it.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
The jointly authored article discusses New York City and Los Angeles restrictions before evaluating five classroom uses.
After the quotation
The authors distinguish producing a better assignment from developing the learner's capabilities.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The authors support task-specific restrictions while allowing uses that preserve students' thinking.
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The Dispute Index. "Tutt and Merrill argue for limits on AI that replaces student practice". First published: 2026-10-30. Last updated: 2026-10-30. https://disputeindex.com/events/7329-tutt-and-merrill-argue-that-schools-should-withhold