AI Sunday School

Parents sue school over son's punishment for using AI, claim it's harmed his college chances

A lawsuit has been filed by the parents of a student at the Hingham School District in Massachusetts, claiming that their son's punishment for using artificial intelligence (AI) to complete a Social Studies project has harmed his college chances.

• RNH admitted to using a chatbot for research, but not to write the entire paper, and was given Saturday detention, a grade of 65 out of 100, and multiple zeros for different portions of the work, which allegedly dropped his average in the advanced placement course from 84 to 78.

• The student and his classmate were also initially barred from selection for the National Honor Society, a decision that was later reversed, but not in time for RNH's early decision college applications.

• The Harrises claim that the Hingham High School student handbook does not explicitly prohibit the use of AI to complete assignments and that the punishment has harmed their son's chances of getting into elite schools, including Stanford University.

• The defendants in the case include the superintendent, principal, a teacher, the history department head, and the Hingham School Committee, who argue that the student handbook and a written policy on Academic Dishonesty and AI expectations clearly prohibit the use of AI tools unless explicitly permitted and instructed.

• The school claims that RNH's actions constituted an "act of dishonesty," "use of unauthorized technology," and "plagiarism," as he used another author's language and thoughts without express permission and did not cite his use of AI in his notes or project.

• The plaintiffs are seeking to have the incident removed from their son's academic records, a B grade for the assignment, and an order requiring the defendants to undergo training in the use and implementation of artificial intelligence in the classroom.

• Predictably, the school has filed a motion to dismiss the case, which will go to court later this month unless a settlement can be reached.