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[quote=Anonymous]I have serious concerns about FCPS piloting AI tools with teachers—and indirectly with students—without fully acknowledging the well-documented harms of excessive technology exposure in childhood. We must talk honestly about the risks of AI and digital tools for developing minds.

Over the last decade, we’ve seen overwhelming research showing that early, frequent, and unstructured use of technology in school (especially in grades K–6) has contributed to a decline in attention, reduction in deep reading ability, and increased distraction in the classroom. Students are spending more time on screens than ever before, and academic outcomes and cognitive stamina have suffered.

At the same time, the rise of smartphones and social media has fueled an unprecedented mental health crisis among adolescents. These platforms are intentionally engineered to be addictive, exploit vulnerabilities in the developing brain, and maximize engagement at the expense of well-being. Major tech companies are well aware of these harms, have been investigated for concealing internal data, and have repeatedly failed to make meaningful changes.

We cannot ignore that this generation is experiencing higher rates of anxiety, depression, loneliness, sleep deprivation, and social withdrawal than any before it—and the timeline aligns directly with the widespread adoption of smartphones and social media. Families, researchers, and youth advocates have been sounding the alarm for years.

Yes—technology and AI can offer tremendous value when used thoughtfully. But when implemented without strict guardrails, especially with children, these tools can be harmful. It is irresponsible to introduce emerging AI systems into classrooms without transparent safeguards, strong boundaries, and a full understanding of the risks.

It is deeply concerning that FCPS would choose to make our children and teachers the test subjects for shaping the use of AI in education. Efficiency is not a good enough reason to gamble with student well-being, cognitive development, or mental health.

Parents need to wake up to the fact that the school environment has become saturated with screens, and that more technology is not always better—especially for young children. We need intentional, developmentally safe, ethical, and transparent technology practices in schools. We need evidence-based decision-making. And we need to prioritize children over corporate partnerships.

For anyone wanting to understand the real harms and research behind this crisis, I strongly recommend these resources:
https://www.dmvunplugged.org/

https://www.instagram.com/jonathanhaidt/

https://www.instagram.com/scrolling2death/
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