A Question from Another Time?
If you’re under 50, this question might sound surreal to you. Maybe even if you’re over 50…
And yet, I clearly remember that when I was in school (yes, I’m over 50!), the big debate was whether or not we were allowed to use a calculator in class. Back then, without social media, the debate was no less intense… even heated!
Today, this question may seem completely outdated, even ridiculous. Why? Because in 2024, each of us carries in our pocket a smartphone with dozens of times more computing power than the NASA computers that sent (and brought back!) astronauts to the moon.
I imagine that, a few years before I was born, people were already debating whether to allow the slide rule in class. For those unfamiliar, a slide rule is a bit like a smartphone — but with only one function and no internet connection (yes, I know, it sounds strange…).
But today, the same debate is back in a new form:
- Should smartphones be banned in schools?
- Should ChatGPT and AI be banned in the classroom?
Old questions, new tools. But should we really ban them, or should we learn to use them wisely?
From Calculators to AI: The Same Evolution?
Let’s go back to the calculator example. At the time, one of the key arguments against it was:
“If students use calculators, they’ll never be able to do mental math again!”
Does that argument sound familiar? Today, it comes back in these forms:
- “If students use ChatGPT, they’ll never learn how to write on their own!”
- “If students use GPS, they’ll never know how to read a map!”
But what happened with the calculator? Did we ban it? No. We learned to use it wisely. It became a tool for support, not a substitute. Students still learn the basics of arithmetic and mental math, but they use calculators for more complex tasks.
One approach does not exclude the other.
The same logic applies to smartphones and artificial intelligence (AI). These tools are not going to disappear. On the contrary, they will only become more sophisticated and present in our daily lives.
So, there are two possible approaches:
- Ban them (and hope they go away… but they won’t)
- Incorporate them into learning so they become assets rather than distractions
Should Smartphones Be Banned in Schools?
In 2018, France banned smartphones in middle schools. But did it work? Not so much. Some studies show that students still manage to sneak peek at their phones during class, and the ban has not necessarily improved concentration or reduced cyberbullying.
But there’s a bigger question:
Should we really ban the very tools that are part of our daily lives?
Imagine if your boss asked you to leave your phone at the office entrance for an entire workday. Would you be more focused and productive? Not necessarily.
Maybe the answer lies in a third approach — somewhere between total ban and total freedom. For example, schools could create “spaces” and “moments” that are more adapted to modern realities:
- Moments without phones or AI: Students leave their smartphones in lockers. They focus on reflection, memorization, and collaboration.
- Moments with phones and AI: Students are encouraged to use any AI or tool they want to solve a specific problem. The goal is to teach them how to use these tools effectively.
This hybrid approach would prepare students to live in a world both with and without technology. Because when they enter the job market, they’ll need to know how to handle both environments.
Should ChatGPT Be Banned in Schools?
With the explosion of generative AI like ChatGPT, the debate has become even more heated:
Should AI be banned in schools?
Once again, it sounds like the old debate about calculators:
- Banning calculators in school didn’t stop students from using them at home
- Banning ChatGPT in school won’t stop students from using it at home
So, why not teach them to use it wisely? In the future, those who know how to interact with AI will have a major advantage over those who don’t.
Just as the mission of schools is to teach the basics of reading and writing, I believe that tomorrow’s schools must also teach the basics of interacting with AI. Otherwise, we risk becoming “illiterates of the new era.”
Learning to Live With and Without Technology
If we follow this logic, it’s not about turning every student into an AI expert or a coding genius. Just as you don’t need to be Victor Hugo to know how to read and write, you don’t need to be an AI engineer to know how to interact with one.
However, everyone should be “good enough” (as we used to say in school). Knowing how to ask ChatGPT the right questions, verifying its responses and reformulating queries are becoming new essential skills. In fact, in a few years, these might even be part of the French language exam at the end of middle school.
nstead of banning, why not design a new form of education that integrates technology in a balanced way? For example:
- “No AI time”: Phones and AI are set aside. Students read, write, and think on their own.
- “AI workshop time”: Students use ChatGPT, calculators, Wolfram Alpha, and other tools to solve problems. They learn how to choose the right tool for the right job.
And What About the Teachers?
When I talk to teachers, I find that many of them are open to these ideas. In fact, some have already implemented them unofficially. These are often individual initiatives, not official policies.
So, why not institutionalize this approach? Why not introduce “100% unplugged” hours and “100% plugged-in” hours into the school schedule? Why not create workshops specifically dedicated to learning how to use AI?
Teachers also need training on these topics. They need to learn how to use these tools so they’re not overtaken by their students. Some teachers are already using ChatGPT to generate custom exercises or to correct papers more efficiently. Here too, banning the tool would be a missed opportunity.
For or Against Pocket Calculators?
Calculators, smartphones, AI… The tools change, but the question remains the same: Should we ban them or teach students how to use them?
History has shown us that banning tools is only a temporary solution. Over time, bans give way to reasoned integration. This was the case with slide rules, calculators, and now, it’s happening with smartphones and AI.
So, rather than banning, why not train our students to turn these tools into allies in their learning process?
Just as schools taught us to read and write, they should now teach us to interact with artificial intelligence.
And instead of saying “all phones in the locker!” maybe it’s time to say, “Take out your phones, it’s time to solve the problem together.”
What do you think?
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Bruno Marion is an expert in chaos theory applied to leadership and management. An international bilingual English-French keynote speaker, he works with executives and organizations in more than 40 countries. He is the author of Chaos, A User’s Guide and Not Everyone Will End Up with an Axe in the Forest.
