Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, is calling for major restrictions on technology use in schools, including limiting classroom laptops for younger children and banning certain artificial intelligence tools for elementary students.
Speaking at the National Press Club in Washington, Weingarten warned that students are becoming overwhelmed by excessive exposure to technology in education.
In a speech titled “Devices Down, Eyes Up, Hands On,” the education leader proposed blocking most classroom computer use until students reach third grade, prohibiting student-facing AI programs in elementary schools, and banning “social companion” chatbots for anyone under 16 years old.
“Students need their teachers, real human beings, not robots and not chatbots,” Weingarten said, while also calling for the creation of an independent research consortium to study the long-term effects of screens and AI on children’s learning and development.
Her comments place the teachers union alongside a rapidly growing parent-led movement pushing schools to reduce student screen time and scale back dependence on school-issued laptops and tablets. Parents and educators across the United States have increasingly expressed concerns that constant device usage is harming students’ academic performance, attention spans, and social development.
Weingarten clarified that she is not advocating for a total ban on artificial intelligence or educational technology. Instead, she said schools must find a healthier balance between technological benefits and potential harms.
The speech comes shortly after the administration of Donald Trump issued a surgeon general advisory warning about excessive screen time among children, including in classroom environments. The advisory encouraged schools to increase the use of physical textbooks, handwritten coursework, and face-to-face social interaction while limiting digital dependency.
During her remarks, Weingarten sharply criticized the Trump administration’s education policies, accusing officials of failing to adequately address the risks associated with technology in schools. She also criticized cuts to education research funding and voiced concerns over the growing influence of major technology companies on education policy.
The White House responded by defending its AI initiatives in education, stating that the administration is focused on promoting ethical and responsible AI adoption to maintain America’s competitiveness globally. Officials also criticized Weingarten’s leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic school closure debates.
Countries around the world are also reevaluating technology use in classrooms. Sweden has encouraged schools to return to printed textbooks and handwritten assignments following concerns about declining literacy rates. Meanwhile, schools in Madrid have introduced strict limitations on tablets and computers, while China has implemented mandatory screen-free periods in schools.
Although many U.S. school districts are moving to reduce classroom screen exposure for younger students, others are simultaneously expanding AI literacy programs as artificial intelligence tools become increasingly common in education.
Despite the growing debate, the American Federation of Teachers has previously partnered with major AI companies, including OpenAI and Anthropic, to help train educators on responsible AI use in classrooms.
Weingarten said recent conversations with teachers and parents significantly shaped her evolving views on classroom technology. She stressed that schools should focus more heavily on communication, collaboration, career training, internships, and practical skill-building instead of overreliance on screens.
She also emphasized that any new restrictions must remain flexible enough to support students with disabilities who benefit from educational technology.
