25 fights we have had about school for decades, each in the words of the people on both sides. Beside each one, the question AI puts on the table. Where both sides' short descriptions have passed the fairness review, you can slide to where you stand; nothing you slide here leaves your browser.
Teachers
Teacher tenure vs results
People have argued over whether job protections for experienced teachers, or measured results in the classroom, should decide who keeps teaching.
"Tenure does not mean a job for life. It means simply that a teacher has the right to a fair hearing on charges that could end a career."
New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), Statewide teachers union, tenure explainer, 2026 nysut.org
"When districts with many students living in poverty make layoff decisions based on LIFO provisions rather than performance, the students who most need greater educational opportunities are more likely to lose out on highly effective teachers."
Patricia Saenz-Armstrong, National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), National teacher policy nonprofit, analysis of layoff policies in 148 large districts, February 9, 2023 nctq.org
The question AI puts on the table
What is a teacher for when AI can teach every lesson?
In a 2025 randomized study in a Harvard physics course, students who used a purpose built AI tutor learned significantly more, in less time, than students in an in-class active learning lesson. Scientific Reports (Nature Portfolio), full text via PubMed Central, June 3, 2025 pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
People have argued over whether to raise pay for all teachers or to pay more to the teachers who get the strongest results.
"By rewarding our most effective teachers with pathways to stay where they're needed most, students ultimately reap the reward."
Mike Morath, Texas Education Commissioner, on Teacher Incentive Allotment awards, June 11, 2026 gov.texas.gov
"Closing the pay gap between public teachers and similarly educated professionals is essential to attracting and retaining qualified educators, boosting student achievement, and securing the future of public education."
Sylvia Allegretto, Economist, Economic Policy Institute, September 24, 2025 files.epi.org
The question AI puts on the table
What should we pay a teacher for when AI can explain any lesson?
In 2025, 411,549 U.S. teaching positions, about 1 in 8, were either unfilled or filled by teachers not fully certified for their assignments, the Learning Policy Institute found. Learning Policy Institute, July 16, 2025 learningpolicyinstitute.org
People have argued over whether new teachers should finish a full preparation program and state certification first, or enter the classroom through faster alternative routes.
"But despite teacher shortages, states continue to pile on new requirements, red tape, and hurdles that may play a role in choking the teacher pipeline when every effort should be made to add and retain licensed teachers."
Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, Public interest law firm, release on its report Let Them Teach: A National Review of Teacher Licensure, September 22, 2021 will-law.org
"Reduction of these requirements threatens both the quality of educators and the instruction they are able to provide. All children should have profession-ready teachers throughout their elementary and secondary education experience."
American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), National alliance of educator preparation programs, response to the Federal School Safety Commission report, December 20, 2018 aacte.org
The question AI puts on the table
What does a new teacher need to learn when AI can write the lesson plan?
In fall 2024, 48% of U.S. school districts said they had trained teachers on the use of AI, up 25 percentage points from fall 2023. RAND Corporation, American School District Panel, April 8, 2025 rand.org
People have argued over how much schools should rely on standardized tests to judge students, teachers and schools.
"Before federal law demanded that students be included in statewide summative assessments, districts and schools would regularly try to sweep learning disparities under the rug."
EdTrust, with civil rights, social justice, disability rights and education advocacy organizations, Joint letter to Miguel Cardona, then nominee for U.S. Secretary of Education, February 3, 2021 edtrust.org
"Educators have long understood that standardized tests are inaccurate and unfair and don't measure what students know."
Becky Pringle, President, National Education Association, in her NEA Today column "Becky's Journal of Joy, Justice, and Excellence", July 10, 2023 nea.org
The question AI puts on the table
What is a test for when AI can see what every kid knows, every day?
In a 2025 field experiment with nearly a thousand high school students, those who practiced with unrestricted GPT-4 earned 17% lower grades once it was taken away than students who never had it. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (abstract as indexed on RePEc/EconPapers), 2025 econpapers.repec.org
People have argued over whether students should have to pass a statewide exam to earn a high school diploma.
"Given the size and scale of this annual taxpayer investment, it is reasonable to have a uniform statewide assessment to ensure that our children have these baseline skills"
Tim Murray, President and CEO, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, in CommonWealth Beacon, August 14, 2024 commonwealthbeacon.org
"There are certainly multiple factors of why a student may drop out of high school, but failure to reach the 'cut score' on the 10th grade MCAS is certainly an important one"
Max Page, President, Massachusetts Teachers Association, quoted by WBUR, September 20, 2024 wbur.org
The question AI puts on the table
What should a diploma prove when AI can answer the exam's questions?
In a 2025 study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, students who practiced with plain GPT-4 saw a 17% reduction in grades once access was removed, compared with students who never had it. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (abstract on RePEc/EconPapers), 2025 econpapers.repec.org
People have argued over whether public education money should follow each child to the school a family chooses, including private schools.
"The EdChoice mission is to advance educational freedom and choice for all as a pathway to successful lives and a stronger society."
EdChoice, National nonprofit advancing school choice, About page, April 27, 2026 edchoice.org
"Vouchers take scarce funding from students in public schools and give those resources to unaccountable private schools."
National Education Association, National teachers union, vouchers issue page, 2026 nea.org
The question AI puts on the table
What is a school when the best tutor fits in a pocket?
A six week AI tutoring pilot for secondary students in Nigeria outperformed 80% of the education programs in a World Bank database of randomized trials in the developing world. World Bank Blogs (Education for Global Development), January 9, 2025 blogs.worldbank.org
People have argued over when the school day should begin for teenagers, and who should set the bell.
"Statewide parameters ensure that a child's ability to go to school at sleep-friendly hours won't vary by zip code."
Terra Ziporyn Snider, PhD, Co-founder and executive director, Start School Later, May 26, 2023 startschoollater.net
"Individual school boards should be able to explore whether later start times make sense for their communities, but this approach should not be required."
California School Boards Association, Statewide association of school boards, September 14, 2018 blog.csba.org
The question AI puts on the table
What is the school day for when a student can learn with AI at any hour?
One in ten U.S. teens say they do all or most of their schoolwork with an AI chatbot's help, Pew Research Center reported in February 2026. Pew Research Center, February 24, 2026 pewresearch.org
People have argued over whether government should fund preschool for every young child, or leave early learning decisions with families.
"When states invest in quality preschool programs that can produce strong outcomes, they invest in a better future for children and taxpayers."
Steve Barnett, Director, National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), Rutgers University, April 22, 2026 nieer.org
"Parents have shown repeatedly that they have very diverse wishes when it comes to pre-k, with many preferring home-based or religious programs and part-time options."
Colleen Hroncich, Policy analyst, Cato Institute Center for Educational Freedom, quoted by Reason, February 8, 2023 reason.com
The question AI puts on the table
What is preschool for when a four-year-old can already talk with AI at home?
In 2025, 29% of U.S. parents of children ages 0 to 8 said their child had used AI to learn school related material. Common Sense Media, The 2025 Common Sense Census: Media Use by Kids Zero to Eight, February 25, 2025 commonsensemedia.org
People have argued over whether students should keep their phones during the school day or put them away from first bell to last.
"When there are emergencies at school, being able to directly communicate with your child to ensure they are safe is critically important and too often schools are dropping the ball on effective communication"
"It’s only when students have 6-7 hours away from their phones that they fully turn to each other and to their teachers."
Jonathan Haidt and Zach Rausch, Author and lead researcher, The Anxious Generation, writing on After Babel, January 30, 2025 afterbabel.com
The question AI puts on the table
What belongs in a student's pocket when the phone can talk back like a friend?
72% of U.S. teens have used AI companions at least once, and 52% use them at least a few times a month, Common Sense Media reported in 2025. Common Sense Media, July 16, 2025 commonsensemedia.org
People have argued over how much homework children should get, and whether it helps them learn at every age.
"developmentally appropriate homework plays a critical role in the formation of positive learning beliefs and behaviors, including a belief in one's academic ability, a deliberative and effortful approach to mastery, and higher expectations and aspirations for one's future."
Janine Bempechat, Clinical professor of human development, Boston University, in Education Next, 2019 educationnext.org
"We also know that for elementary students, there is very little evidence that homework is linked to student achievement. However, since reading for pleasure is linked to achievement, in the elementary setting, we hope educators will encourage free reading as much as possible"
Challenge Success, Nonprofit affiliated with the Stanford Graduate School of Education, Homework Guide for K-12 educators, 2024 challengesuccess.org
The question AI puts on the table
What is homework for when AI can finish it in seconds?
54% of U.S. teens say they have used chatbots for help with schoolwork, and one in ten say they do all or most of their schoolwork with a chatbot's help. Pew Research Center, February 24, 2026 pewresearch.org
People have argued over whether cutting class size is worth its cost, or whether the same money does more somewhere else.
"While all students benefit from smaller classes, the research shows that those who benefit the most are children of color, who make up the majority of students in the NYC public schools."
Leonie Haimson, Executive Director, Class Size Matters, joint release with Education Law Center on the New York City class size law, June 3, 2022 edlawcenter.org
"Policymakers should divert funding currently devoted to class-size reduction toward other education programs that offer a greater return on investment, such as an aggressive program of teacher merit pay."
Nevada Policy Research Institute, State policy think tank, policy brief on Nevada's class-size reduction program, 2024 learn.nevadapolicy.org
The question AI puts on the table
What does class size mean when every student can have a tutor of their own?
In a 2025 randomized trial in a college physics course, students learned significantly more in less time with an AI tutor than in an active learning class. Scientific Reports (Nature Portfolio), via PubMed Central, June 3, 2025 pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Schools have argued over how closely to watch students during exams to stop cheating.
"Cheating apparently also paid off handsomely, at least when it comes to exam performance, often raising scores by about a lettergrade. A related implication is that some form of direct proctoring is perhaps the most effective way of mitigating cheating during high-stakes online assessments."
Seife Dendir and R. Stockton Maxwell, Researchers, Radford University, in Computers in Human Behavior Reports (quoted in a Meazure Learning release), February 2, 2021 newswise.com
"Schools should not be using surveillance tools on their students. We already know that people who are being watched change their behavior and self-censor, and that it breaks down the trust among students, teachers, and school administrations."
Jason Kelley and Lindsay Oliver, Electronic Frontier Foundation, December 9, 2020 eff.org
The question AI puts on the table
What counts as cheating when AI can do every assignment?
59% of U.S. teens think using AI to cheat is a regular occurrence at their school. Pew Research Center, February 24, 2026 pewresearch.org
People have argued over whether public college should be made tuition free or debt free, or whether existing financial aid already does that job.
"Tuition prices at public universities have increased far less than what prominent free-college advocates claim, thanks to generous financial aid policies."
Jason D. Delisle, American Enterprise Institute, report "Evidence Against the Free-College Agenda", May 2020 aei.org
"We hope this compendium will guide policymakers as they work to address the root causes of the student debt crisis by lowering college costs and providing sufficient grant aid so that students do not need to take on unmanageable debt to earn a degree."
Sameer Gadkaree, President, The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS), April 18, 2023 ticas.org
The question AI puts on the table
What is a college degree for when AI is reshaping the entry-level jobs it was meant to open?
Stanford researchers using ADP payroll data found that employment of workers ages 22 to 25 in AI-exposed occupations stood 19% below where it would be had it kept pace with less exposed peers, as of June 2026. Stanford Digital Economy Lab (Brynjolfsson, Chandar, Chen), August 2026 digitaleconomy.stanford.edu
People have argued over whether school money should follow each student or be set by what it costs districts to educate the students they serve.
"Student-centered funding models treat every child more fairly, better recognize individuality, and allow for innovation and progress."
Aaron Garth Smith and Christian Barnard, Education policy analysts, Reason Foundation, October 29, 2020 reason.org
"each district should have a unique funding target that is based on both overall enrollment and the characteristics of the student population."
Education Law Center, National school funding advocacy organization, comments for New York's Foundation Aid study, September 2024 edlawcenter.org
The question AI puts on the table
What should a school dollar pay for when AI can bring a tutor to every student?
In July 2025 the U.S. Department of Education issued guidance stating that federal formula and discretionary grant funds may be used for AI in education. U.S. Department of Education (press release as distributed by Public), July 22, 2025 pubt.io
People have argued over whether school meals should be free for every child or for children from families in need.
Free meals for families in need
"With H.165, the Legislature has added $20-30 million in property tax pressure to pay for school meals for all students, including those from affluent families. This will be paid for by all Vermonters, including those with low incomes."
Phil Scott, Governor of Vermont, letter allowing the universal school meals bill to become law without his signature, June 14, 2023 governor.vermont.gov
Free meals for every child
"Nutritious school meals improve classroom behavior, support students’ mental health, improve children’s diets, and enhance students’ ability to learn. They are also a critical line of defense against childhood hunger."
Erin Kennedy Hysom, Senior child nutrition policy analyst, Food Research and Action Center, May 28, 2026 frac.org
Free meals for families in needFree meals for every child
Not set. Slide to where you stand.
The question AI puts on the table
If AI can teach a child anywhere, who makes sure that child eats?
In fiscal year 2024 the National School Lunch Program served more than 4.8 billion lunches at a total cost of $17.7 billion. USDA Economic Research Service, August 5, 2025 ers.usda.gov
People have argued over whether early reading should be taught through explicit, systematic phonics or through a broader mix of methods chosen by teachers.
"And today, we understand the great value and importance of phonics. Not all literacy curriculums are created equal, and sadly, many Ohio students do not have access to the most effective reading curriculum."
Mike DeWine, Governor of Ohio, State of the State address, quoted by The 74, February 21, 2023 the74million.org
"Education legislation should address guiding concepts while avoiding prescriptions that will tie the hands of professional educators. All students deserve equitable access to high-quality literacy and reading instruction and opportunities in their schools."
National Education Policy Center and Education Deans for Justice and Equity, Joint policy statement, University of Colorado Boulder, March 2020 nepc.colorado.edu
The question AI puts on the table
How should a child learn to read when an AI tutor can coach every child, one on one?
In a World Bank randomized trial in Nigeria, six weeks of teacher guided after school AI tutoring in English produced an improvement of 0.31 standard deviation on an assessment. The World Bank, Policy Research Working Paper 11125 (abstract on RePEc/EconPapers), May 19, 2025 econpapers.repec.org
People have argued over whether what students learn should be set by shared state standards or kept in local hands.
"Florida's B.E.S.T. Standards were made by Florida teachers for Florida students, and I know they will be a model for the rest of the nation."
Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida, on the state's new standards replacing Common Core, quoted by CBS Miami, February 12, 2020 cbsnews.com
"In the past, students across the country were held to different standards, which led to uneven educational outcomes."
Common Core State Standards Initiative, Standards effort led by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers, 2024 thecorestandards.org
The question AI puts on the table
Who decides what children learn when an AI will answer any question they ask?
As of August 2026, 35 states and Puerto Rico had official guidance or policy on the use of AI in K12 schools, according to the AI for Education state tracker. AI for Education, August 21, 2026 aiforeducation.io
People have argued over whether high schools should prepare every student for college, or build career and technical pathways that lead straight to work.
"the history, and in some cases still the reality, of career and technical education (CTE) is one of diverting students of color and students with disabilities away from college preparatory courses"
The Education Trust, National education equity organization, letter to the Senate HELP Committee on Perkins CTE reauthorization, June 26, 2018 edtrust.org
"Almost everyone now admits that college, as traditionally defined, is not going to be for everyone, and that career and technical programs and trade schools can provide sturdy on-ramps to the middle class."
Michael J. Petrilli, President, Thomas B. Fordham Institute, January 27, 2022 fordhaminstitute.org
The question AI puts on the table
What is job training for when AI changes the job before the training ends?
Employers surveyed by the World Economic Forum expect 39% of workers' existing skill sets to be transformed or become outdated between 2025 and 2030. World Economic Forum, Future of Jobs Report 2025, January 7, 2025 reports.weforum.org
People have argued over whether civics class should center on founding documents and how government works, or also take on current questions and student projects.
"We also believe that modern civics goes further and tackles the hard questions that we must ask ourselves as Americans in this precarious moment in our history: How can we have strongly differing partisan views yet talk them through civilly?"
Louise Dubé, Executive director, iCivics (lead of the CivXNow coalition), February 2, 2021 nationalreview.com
"Civics class shouldn't be an opportunity to indoctrinate students. It should be an opportunity to teach students about our means of self-government and the spirit of tolerance and liberty."
David Randall, Director of research, National Association of Scholars (Civics Alliance), March 22, 2021 nas.org
The question AI puts on the table
What does a citizen need to know when AI can write a convincing argument for any side in seconds?
In September 2024, 39% of Americans said AI would be used mostly for bad purposes during the presidential campaign, and 5% said mostly for good. Pew Research Center, September 19, 2024 pewresearch.org
People have argued over whether schools are made safer by police officers on campus or by more counselors, nurses, social workers and psychologists.
Prioritize counselors and mental health staff for school safety
"School counselors, nurses, social workers, and psychologists are frequently the first to see children who are sick, stressed, traumatized, may act out, or may hurt themselves or others."
American Civil Liberties Union, Report "Cops and No Counselors", March 4, 2019 aclunc.org
Prioritize school resource officers for school safety
"School resource officers are an essential part of those practices and are most effective when they are carefully selected, specifically trained and integrated into the school community as mentors, educators and protectors."
Mo Canady, Executive Director, National Association of School Resource Officers, June 4, 2026 nasro.org
Prioritize counselors and mental health staff for school safetyPrioritize school resource officers for school safety
Not set. Slide to where you stand.
The question AI puts on the table
What does a safe school mean when a student's closest confidant may be a chatbot?
Common Sense Media found in 2025 that 72% of U.S. teens had used AI companions at least once, and 52% used them at least a few times a month. Common Sense Media, July 16, 2025 commonsensemedia.org
People have argued over how much say parents should have over what their children are taught and shown in public school.
"They offer to children of all faiths and backgrounds an education and an opportunity to practice living in our multicultural society. That experience is critical to our Nation’s civic vitality."
Justice Sonia Sotomayor, U.S. Supreme Court, dissenting in Mahmoud v. Taylor, June 27, 2025 supremecourt.gov
"And this is not merely a right to teach religion in the confines of one’s own home. Rather, it extends to the choices that parents wish to make for their children outside the home."
Justice Samuel Alito, U.S. Supreme Court, opinion of the Court in Mahmoud v. Taylor, June 27, 2025 supremecourt.gov
The question AI puts on the table
What does a parent's say mean when a child can talk with an AI about anything, at any hour?
About half of U.S. parents say their teen uses AI chatbots, while 64% of teens say they do, Pew Research Center found in a survey published February 2026. Pew Research Center, February 24, 2026 pewresearch.org
Special education: inclusion or a range of settings
People have argued over whether students with disabilities should be taught in general education classes, or placed along a range of settings chosen for each child.
"For some individuals, needs can only be appropriately met in private, specialized autism schools, residential schools, hospitals, or other alternative settings."
National Council on Severe Autism (NCSA), National advocacy organization, position statement on educational placements, December 10, 2018 ncsautism.org
"students with disabilities, including those with the most extensive support needs, have a right to be educated in general education classes"
TASH, Disability advocacy organization, position statement on inclusive education, November 2025 tash.org
The question AI puts on the table
What does an individualized plan mean when AI can adjust every lesson for every child?
In the 2024 to 2025 school year, 57% of special education teachers said they used AI to help develop an IEP or 504 plan, up 18 points in one year. Center for Democracy & Technology, October 28, 2025 cdt.org
People have argued over whether to answer chronic absence with consequences for families or with supports.
"Our efforts at Attendance Works show that chronic absence drops when state school boards develop policies that clarify rules around taking and reporting attendance, promote prevention and early intervention, and ensure legal action is used only as a last resort"
Hedy Chang, Founder and executive director, Attendance Works, on being named NASBE's 2024 Policy Leader of the Year, October 10, 2024 nasbe.org
"With the new school year starting, we need to increase accountability of parents, students, and schools; coordinate supports for students; and provide additional tools for the courts in the truancy process."
Tracy Pennycuick, Pennsylvania state senator (R-24), press release introducing Senate Bill 984 on school truancy, September 2, 2025 pasenategop.com
The question AI puts on the table
Why come to school when AI can teach at home?
The U.S. chronic absenteeism rate declined to 25.7 percent in 2023, 23.5 percent in 2024 and 22.6 percent in 2025. American Enterprise Institute (Nat Malkus), June 30, 2026 aei.org
People have argued over how much data schools should collect about each student and who gets to see it.
"AI products represent a special risk to student privacy as many data-mine personal data to improve their products, which violates the state student privacy law"
Parent Coalition for Student Privacy, National parent advocacy group, statement on a New York State Comptroller audit of NYC student data privacy, May 10, 2026 studentprivacymatters.org
"At DQC, we have heard time and again from parents that they need and want greater access to data to support their child on their journey through education and into the workforce."
Mirel Herrera, Data Quality Campaign, National nonprofit on education data, on new state parent portal laws, April 12, 2023 dataqualitycampaign.org
The question AI puts on the table
Who should hold a child's learning record when AI can log every answer?
In a 2025 national survey, 28% of teachers who use AI for many school tasks said their school had a large scale data breach, compared with 18% of teachers who use it for few or none. NPR, reporting a Center for Democracy and Technology survey, October 8, 2025 npr.org
People have argued over how much of the school day children should spend on screens.
"Not all screen time is equal. High-quality, digital tools that support curiosity and creativity shouldn’t be treated as tools that enable passive consumption."
Richard Culatta, CEO, ISTE+ASCD, statement to Education Week, April 24, 2026 edweek.org
"The proliferation of one-to-one devices and screen-based learning through gamified educational technology has coincided with poor educational outcomes and is linked to shallow engagement, fragmented attention, and worsened cognitive development."
Brendan Bouffard, Staff attorney, Fairplay, statement to the Rhode Island House Education Committee, April 1, 2026 rilegislature.gov
The question AI puts on the table
How much screen belongs in a school day when the screen can tutor?
One in ten U.S. teens say they do all or most of their schoolwork with help from AI chatbots. Pew Research Center, February 24, 2026 pewresearch.org
