A Tale of Two Schools: What Teens Taught Us About AI Use in the Classroom
- The White Hatter
- Jul 10
- 3 min read
As the school year wrapped up, we had the chance to speak with students from two different high schools, one public, one independent, about how they’re using artificial intelligence (AI) in their education. What they shared was eye-opening and serves as a real-time snapshot of where things stand when it comes to youth and AI.
At the independent school, students described using platforms like ChatGPT in ways that added value to their learning. Some used it to help explore opposing arguments for a class debate. Others turned to it when they needed a concept explained in a different way, almost like having a virtual tutor in their back pocket. Many spoke about using AI to polish their final drafts or to brainstorm ideas when they hit a creative wall. It wasn’t about taking shortcuts. It was about using the tool to deepen their understanding and refine their thinking.
In contrast, students at the public school told a different story. For the most part, they were using AI to do the work for them, copying and pasting entire essays, book reports, or written responses with little or no editing. Few mentioned using AI to support their learning. It was being used to bypass effort rather than to enhance it.
So why the difference?
It came down to one key factor, education!
We learned that the students at the independent school had been taught by their teachers how to use AI responsibly and ethically. They had open conversations in class about what was okay, what wasn’t, and how to use these tools to support, not replace, their own thinking. In other words, students were given a framework and practical hands on experience for responsible use.
At the public school, those same conversations hadn’t happened. Students were largely left to figure things out on their own. Without guidance, many defaulted to the most obvious (and easiest) use, letting AI do the work for them.
This isn’t a knock on public education, we here at the White Hatter are the products of the public school system. Teachers everywhere are stretched thin, and the pace at which AI has entered classrooms is overwhelming even for the most tech-savvy educators. But it highlights something critical, if we want students to use AI in a way that supports learning rather than undermining it, we need to start by educating the educators. AI isn’t going away, and pretending it doesn’t exist, or banning it outright, misses the point.
This is exactly why digital literacy isn’t optional anymore. It’s foundational. That includes teaching students how to critically evaluate information, use tools like ChatGPT ethically, and understand the real consequences of academic dishonesty. But it also means equipping teachers with the training and support they need to confidently bring AI into their classrooms as a teaching tool, not a threat.
What we learned from these two schools wasn’t just about students. It was about the adults guiding them. When we invest in digital education for teachers, students benefit. When we don’t, they’re left to navigate powerful tools without a map.
We believe there needs to be a growing effort to train teachers and school staff about AI tools, like ChatGPT, given its wide use by teens. Pew Research found that around 26% of youth aged 13 to 17 are using ChatGPT (1), which we think, based on our experience in talking with teens, is an underreported number. Educators need resources to help students use AI in ways that support critical thinking rather than replace it.
Presently, many schools have adopted blanket bans on AI, which we think is unrealistic and out of touch with how teens are learning and creating today.
We shouldn’t be just banning or shielding young people from AI’s potential risks, but we should also be giving them the tools to use it thoughtfully, creatively, and with a clear understanding of its limits. Helping to educate our teachers is a key part of that process.
Digital Food For Thought
The White Hatter
Facts Not Fear, Facts Not Emotions, Enlighten Not Frighten, Know Tech Not No Tech
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