Demanding a ban on “screen time” for students from pre-kindergarten to second grade and ban on AI chatbots for all school students, Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers warned that students are becoming too dependent on technology.
Addressing teachers and parents at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, Weingarten called for enhanced focus on human connection, critical thinking, collaboration and hands-on learning in American schools.
“I’m not calling for an AI ban. What I am calling for is getting the balance right to harness the benefits of technology while mitigating the harms. I’m wary of the dangers of AI, but it is here to stay” Weingarten said while announcing the proposal.
Weingarten said students are “drowning in tech” and argued that schools have allowed digital devices and AI tools to spread too quickly without fully understanding the long-term effects on children’s learning, focus, and mental health.
She also unveiled AFT’s 10 point plan to address the “growing national concern around tech and AI in classrooms.” The pointers include calling for a ban on screen for students from pre-kindergarten to Grade 2, no “student facing AI in elementary schools, ban on AI “companion” chatbots for all students till age 16, focus on active learning across all grade levels, ensuring students have solid reading, math and civic engagement skills, Protecting intellectual property and academic freedom, and supporting teachers’ decisions on technology integration the classroom and a new standard for safety and privacy for AI in schools.
Weingarten stressed that while AI may help teachers complete administrative tasks more efficiently, human judgment and critical thinking must remain central to education. “When that starts to get eroded, that is a concern,” she said.
The proposal also calls for stronger federal oversight, independent research into the impact of AI and screens on children, and large-scale teacher training on AI privacy, ethics, and safety. In addition, the union wants major technology companies to contribute financially toward addressing AI-related disruptions in education and employment.
“We need to get the balance right to harness the benefits of technology while mitigating the harms,” Weingarten added.
The announcement comes as several countries, including Sweden and China, move to reduce classroom screen time. Across the United States, growing concerns from parents and educators are also pushing schools to rethink student device use and the rapid expansion of AI in education.
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