There's a writing competition in the ESL extracurricular I teach in, and to qualify they must do all of their writing during class with a physical paper and writing implement, with their phones in a box on the teacher's desk. I was listing off format ideas for the class and when I mentioned they could write a song, one kid burst out "a song? Like with RHYMES?? You can't just do that without AI!" - to the vehement nods of his classmates.
And a part of me gets it. I know how hard writing is, especially in a language you're not yet fluent in. I have been there, myself. And I did a pretty bad job, but it was so important for my brain.
The thing is, this is my Star Pupil™. He's Gifted™, passionate about learning and he buckles down and does the assigned work with minimal complaints.
Being a teacher in 2026 is to oscillate wildly between hope and despair for the future. This is the next generation of, well, everyone. Every job, every voice, every historical movement. They are brimming with potential just like any other group of humans and we are poisoning their minds and draining their water sources. And I don't know how to fix it.
