No more typing: Why this elite US school is making students handwrite essays to fight ChatGPT cheating
An elite high school in Queens, New York, has introduced a new policy requiring students to handwrite their summer reading essays in class, aiming to reduce the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT for cheating.
Townsend Harris High School will no longer allow students to complete this traditional assignment at home using computers, instead mandating that essays be written by hand during the first weeks of September.
The change affects the longstanding practice where students typed and submitted their summer reading essays remotely. School officials believe the new approach will better capture genuine student work and discourage shortcuts provided by AI.
Policy shift aims to ensure authentic student work
English teacher Brian Sweeney told
The Classic
, the student-run newspaper, that the school noticed excessive AI use in past assignments and decided in-class handwriting would provide a 'more authentic representation of student thinking,' as reported by the
New York Post
. The summer reading essay requires students to read an assigned book over the break and then analyse it in writing.
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Critics of the policy argue it unfairly penalises all students due to the misuse of AI by some, and could disadvantage those who write more slowly. One student told The Classic that being 'held accountable for other students' misusing AI' felt unfair, while another incoming pupil said the new rule 'brings a problem to people who struggle with writing at a faster pace,' as quoted by the New York Post.
Junior Yasmeen Ismail, co-editor-in-chief of The Classic, described the policy change as a 'reasonable first step' but stressed that schools need longer-term strategies to manage AI effectively.
Rising senior Ryan Chen, also co-editor-in-chief, defended the move, stating it 'heavily encourages students to physically read the book cover-to-cover instead of using AI to give them a summary and an analysis in minutes,' as reported by the New York Post.
AI use and enforcement challenges in schools
The policy comes amid growing tensions nationwide around AI-driven schoolwork. A recent survey found 97% of 2,000 high school and college students in the US have used AI tools like ChatGPT.
However, rules on AI use vary widely between schools and even between teachers, causing confusion and pressure among students.
At Hunter College High School in New York, for example, some teachers permit AI use while others consider it cheating. Rising junior Scheherazade Schonfeld told the New York Post that the inconsistent enforcement makes it 'really hard to be a student who's trying to follow the rules right now.'
Kim Hong, a junior at Holmdel High School in New Jersey, reported that students have been flagged for AI suspicion over minor word choices, which has increased anxiety about where schools draw the line.
Broader education policies and teacher training on AI
The New York City Department of Education (DOE) lifted a ban on ChatGPT just months after announcing it, but has yet to issue clear rules on student AI use. The DOE is developing an AI framework and has launched an AI Policy Lab to help schools navigate ethical implementation.
The United Federation of Teachers recently partnered with organisations including OpenAI and Microsoft to provide $23 million in training for educators on classroom AI use, and will open a National Center for AI in Lower Manhattan.
Teaching students how to use AI responsibly
Experts suggest that while handwriting essays can deter misuse, blanket bans limit educators' ability to teach critical and wise AI use. Punya Mishra of Arizona State University told the New York Post that schools should focus on integrating AI instruction rather than excluding it.
Frances Kweller of Kweller Prep noted that preparing students to be independent thinkers in an AI-driven world is crucial. The policy at Townsend Harris highlights the need for education systems to adapt and equip students with skills to use AI responsibly, ensuring academic integrity while embracing new technologies.
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