A legal dispute in Massachusetts has surfaced that has the potential to change how educational institutions approach the usage of generative AI. Dale and Jennifer Harris have sued Hingham Public Schools, alleging that their son’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools on a history project resulted in unfair penalties. They claim that their son’s chances of getting into prestigious colleges like Stanford have been damaged by the school’s decision to assign him a grade of 65 out of 100 and impose Saturday detention.
The Harris family contends that using AI for coursework is not expressly prohibited in the student handbook of the institution. They contend that their son’s academic record was harmed and that the punishment was too harsh. The school’s actions were described in their lawsuit as “destructive and merciless,” negatively impacting their son’s prospects going forward.
On the other hand, Hingham Public Schools insist that plagiarism of any kind and the use of “unauthorized technology” are forbidden in their student handbook. The district argues that if the discipline is overturned, additional parents may file lawsuits challenging school choices, and it defends its actions as consistent and reasonably lenient.
The case brings to light the larger discussion around AI’s application in education. Schools have been debating the moral and practical ramifications of artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom since the publication of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in 2022. Due to a lack of defined criteria, some districts that had previously prohibited AI technologies eventually overturned their rulings.
A survey by the Center for Democracy and Technology revealed that schools are increasingly punishing students for AI use, often affecting marginalized groups disproportionately. The Harris family alleges that their son was unfairly targeted, as another student who used AI for an English paper was allowed to join the National Honor Society, while their son was initially excluded.
The lawsuit also questions the absence of clear state guidelines on AI use in education. “Generative AI is an emerging landscape and its use is here to stay,” the Harris family argues, underscoring the need for schools to adapt to the evolving technology.