Archive · 13 Aug 2025
NYC High School Moves to Handwritten Essays to Curb AI Use
Some schools are changing how students do their schoolwork.
One school in NYC is making students write essays by hand to stop them from using AI.
Some students think this is unfair.
The school wants students to do their own work.
Experts disagree on how to use AI in school: some want to teach it, others want to stop students from using it.
Townsend Harris High School mandates handwritten essays to combat AI use.
The change aims to ensure academic integrity and genuine student work.
Students have mixed reactions, some feeling unfairly penalized.
The move reflects broader debate on originality amid accessible AI.
NYC schools develop guidelines for responsible AI integration.
- Who
- Students and educators
- What
- A high school is mandating handwritten essays to reduce AI use.
- When
- Starting September
- Where
- Townsend Harris High School, Queens, New York City
- Why
- To curb AI use and promote academic integrity
Concerns over the changes
Ensuring academic integrity
Student Reactions
Concerns over the changes
The policy unfairly penalizes students.
Ensuring academic integrity
Handwritten essays are necessary.
Impact of AI on Learning
Concerns over the changes
Restricting AI puts some students at a disadvantage.
Ensuring academic integrity
Encourages students to engage more with their reading.
- School
- Townsend Harris High School
- Location
- Queens, New York
- Policy Change
- Handwritten essays
- Focus
- Academic Integrity
Sources
New York School Targets AI Cheating With In-Class Handwritten Essays
AI and robotics training lab at Loreto Day School, compulsory hands-on training - Telegraph India
Schools face students' dependency on artificial intelligence; creativity at risk - Telegraph India