NYC High School Goes Pen-and-Paper to Curb ChatGPT Cheating

In Queens, New York, Townsend Harris High School has taken a bold, old-school step by banning typed, take-home summer reading essays and instead requiring students to handwrite their work pen to paper, in class. The move isn’t nostalgic; it’s a direct response to widespread academic dishonesty pushed by AI tools like ChatGPT. English teacher Brian Sweeney explained that in-class writing “will allow for a more authentic representation of student thinking”. This is a broad academic challenge that is threatening the very foundations of learning and education. While some have argued that AI is enhancing education, others say it is killing the critical thinking that has been the bedrock of innovation. 

This policy shift sparked mixed reactions from students. Critics argue it unfairly penalises diligent learners, slowing those less comfortable writing under pressure and stripping valuable flexibility. One incoming freshman voiced frustration, saying the policy “brings a problem to people who struggle with writing at a faster pace”. Others defend the change: co-editor-in-chief Yasmeen Ismail called it “a reasonable first step,” while her peer Ryan Chen noted that it pushes students to actually read the material rather than rely on AI summaries.

But Townsend Harris isn’t alone. A survey found that 97% of high school and college students have used AI tools often blurting out entire essays in seconds. Faced with this, many educators nationwide are rethinking how and where they assess student work. Approximately 66% of instructors are revising assignments, with 76% requiring handwritten submissions, and about 65% restricting typed work to in-class settings without internet access.

What’s clear is that technology itself isn’t inherently the enemy it’s misuse. Some experts warn that blanket bans may simply delay deeper, necessary conversations around AI literacy. Punya Mishra of Arizona State University argues that policies should teach students how to work with AI, not suppress it entirely; handwriting may preserve academic integrity temporarily, but doesn’t foster long-term critical thinking.

We’re witnessing a crossroads for digital education. While AI increasingly permeates student life, the pressure to maintain academic authenticity is pushing schools to re-embrace traditional methods even as they scramble to build frameworks that reconcile innovation with integrity.