The School of the Future

Curmudgucation

by Peter Greene

Dec 15, 2024

Summary of “The School of the Future”
By Peter Greene
Published December 15, 2024
Retrieved from https://curmudgucation.blogspot.com

In “The School of the Future,” Peter Greene explores the growing dominance of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, using sharp wit and hyperbole to question its unchecked integration into schools. Greene critiques the allure of AI-driven tools in education and challenges educators, policymakers, and technology advocates to reflect on the true purpose of education: fostering human growth and self-actualization.

AI and the Loss of Humanity in Education

Greene paints a dystopian picture of a future where AI dominates every aspect of education. AI designs lesson plans, assigns work, completes assignments, and even evaluates itself, effectively removing humans from the teaching and learning process. Teachers are rendered obsolete, students remain at home, and schools become empty, buzzing computer hubs. Greene acknowledges this scenario as extreme satire but provocatively asks: Where do we draw the line? At what point will decision-makers recognize that removing the human element from education has gone too far?

The excitement around AI reflects what Greene calls the “initial moment of technological exuberance,” a stage where the mere ability to use technology overshadows thoughtful reflection on whether it actually solves meaningful problems or serves a higher purpose. For example, AI-powered tools like virtual teaching assistants promise efficiency but simultaneously eliminate jobs and diminish meaningful human interaction. Greene warns against falling into this trap without critically evaluating what AI in education seeks to accomplish and whether the costs are justified.

The Purpose of Education: A Crossroads

Greene argues that the current AI enthusiasm in education stems from a flawed understanding of its purpose. Too many proponents see education as a system that simply produces and assesses work, assigns grades, and delivers credentials. In this narrow view, AI is an ideal solution: it automates lesson delivery, assessment, and administrative tasks, streamlining processes to enhance efficiency.

However, Greene counters that this mechanized view neglects the deeper, human-centered goals of education. Education, at its core, should help individuals become their best selves and fully grasp what it means to be human in the world. It is a process of personal growth, critical thinking, and developing human connections—goals that cannot be replicated by technology, no matter how advanced.

Greene challenges educators to reflect on these questions: What is the purpose of school? Are we using technology to enhance this purpose, or are we compromising it? By grounding education in a clear vision of its higher purpose, schools can avoid the trap of incorporating every “shiny new” technological tool that comes along, regardless of its true value.

AI as a Tool, Not the Master

While Greene does not dismiss AI outright, he emphasizes that technology must remain a tool used to serve human purposes, not replace the humans in the educational process. AI cannot build relationships, foster empathy, or inspire creativity—critical components of meaningful learning experiences. Educators must prioritize human interaction and student growth while integrating technology thoughtfully and responsibly.

The pandemic highlighted the need for deliberate choices in education. Schools must resist the temptation to embrace AI simply because of its novelty or promises of efficiency. Instead, Greene urges educators and leaders to align technology use with the fundamental mission of education: helping students become thoughtful, self-aware, and capable human beings.

Conclusion

Peter Greene’s “The School of the Future” serves as a cautionary reflection on the rapid adoption of AI in education. While technology offers exciting possibilities, Greene warns against blindly removing the human elements that define education’s core purpose. Schools must remain spaces where students grow into their best selves, guided by thoughtful human interaction. AI may assist in this process, but it must never become the centerpiece of education.

Source: Peter Greene, “The School of the Future”, December 15, 2024.

Original Article

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Prepared with the assistance of AI software

OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (4) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com