Students at Percy Julian Middle School in Oak Park, Ill., volunteered this school year to use some of their recesses and lunch periods to investigate AI tools, according to an article in Education Week. They presented to the faculty and parents as part of a panel discussion on April 8, 2026.
The presenters – nine 8th graders — warned that AI was set to reshape the education space, whether educators were ready or not.
Teachers hear this message often these days. Nationally, experts say it’s important for educators to learn about AI so they can leverage the technology in their work and show students how to use it responsibly. Half of all teachers said they’ve had at least one training on AI, according to a 2025 survey from the EdWeek Research Center.
The students addressed the fears about artificial intelligence, how it’s here to stay, and how they don’t want it to replace teachers.
“We’re here because AI is going to be a part of our future, our generation,” said Viv Rowell, 14, to the more than 60 assembled educators and parents of some of the presenting students. “We’re going to be the first kids who have AI grading our college resumes. It’s just going to be a giant part of our lives.”
Students have perhaps the biggest stake in how AI literacy is taught, but often the least input into those decisions, noted Ashley Kannan, a teacher who developed the idea for the project. Teachers decide what constitutes appropriate use, or even whether to broach the subject at all in class.
Kannan used the project to ask students how they could use AI to reach their own goals. What guardrails would they deem essential?
Students discussed how AI “mimics” human capabilities, but they aimed to push the conversation past fears of cheating into appropriate boundaries for AI use.
Though surveys show that almost half of middle schoolers use AI for homework, they’re also wary of how the technology might be affecting them. Forty-eight percent of middle school students said they were concerned about AI harming their critical thinking skills in a 2025 survey from the RAND Corp. In a Gallup survey this year, almost a third of Gen Z say they’re angry about AI growth, and about 4 in 10 say they’re anxious about the trajectory the technology is taking.
In their presentation to the teachers, the students returned often to questions of ethics.
“The transformation here isn’t just about smarter technology, it’s about creating systems and mindsets that respect boundaries,” said one student.
“You can’t really start a conversation without having your own thought,” said Ava Kamenski, 13, talking about using AI as a writing or thinking partner. “But once you do, then you can work together with AI to create something that’s still yours.”
AI can also help students explore a topic from more angles, said Rae Kamenski, 13. “It’s like, ‘Hey, let’s look at a few different possibilities to start this assignment,’ and it can push you to think harder,” she said.
This is a core question about acceptable use of AI: Does asking AI to brainstorm with you or build on your thoughts help students think more deeply? Or does it short-circuit the thinking process?
Some researchers warn that involving AI in the drafting stages of writing an essay, for instance, could shortchange learning; others encourage students to use AI as a thought partner.
But ultimately, the students said, AI still can’t replace human judgment—especially that of their teachers.
“Your teachers will actually laugh at your jokes, and make you feel important, and make you feel loved,” said Josie Baker, 14. “I don’t think AI could ever take that away.”
Education Week
