Chapter 1: The State of Education Today

The recent article by Daniel Herman titled “The End of High School English” left me feeling quite unsettled. After 25 years of teaching AP English, this is the first semester I've stepped away. My decision stemmed from the realization that my students were no longer engaging with the literature assigned to them. How did I come to this conclusion? Through end-of-year surveys.

In these surveys, I requested my students to honestly share which books they had actually read over the course of the year. More often than not, only a handful of students would read a couple of the eight classic works we covered. It was disheartening.

After my experience teaching in person during the COVID-19 pandemic, I decided enough was enough, and I chose to leave the profession like many other disheartened educators.

When I stumbled upon Herman’s piece discussing yet another method that allows students to sidestep reading, writing, and critical thinking, my feelings of discouragement grew, but so did my curiosity. Embracing the role of a disgruntled English teacher, I decided to experiment with AI-generated content.

The task was straightforward: compose a sonnet about Santa Claus. Below are two AI-created sonnets.

Ode to Santa Claus

Santa Claus, with rosy cheeks,

And sparkling eyes that ignite,

Spreads joy to all he meets,

On this magical night.

With laughter and a heart of gold,

He journeys far and wide,

Delivering gifts to both young and old,

With his enchanted sleigh as his guide.

His workshop buzzes with glee,

Where elves craft toys with delight,

Creating wonders swiftly

For all the good girls and boys in sight.

On this special Christmas Eve,

We express gratitude for all he does,

Bringing joy and love, we believe

In the enchantment of the holiday season, Santa Claus.

Jolly Old Saint Nicholas

Oh, jolly old Saint Nicholas,

With rosy cheeks and a snowy beard,

You bring happiness to children,

Filling their hearts with Christmas cheer.

Your sleigh is drawn by eight tiny reindeer,

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen,

Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen,

Guiding you through the starry night.

You make a list and check it twice,

To see who’s been naughty or nice,

And on Christmas Eve, you make your rounds,

Delivering gifts with magical sounds.

From the North Pole,

You traverse far and wide,

Spreading joy and love on every side.

Thank you, Santa Claus, for all you do,

Merry Christmas to you!

Herman's observation is spot on: AI appears to produce work that surpasses the abilities of the average high school senior, possibly even exceeding many writers on platforms like Medium. Bah Humbug! It seems AI has appropriated the essence of human creativity.

AI's Growing Influence on Human Thought

AI, initially a tool for human creativity,

Has evolved to outstrip our own ingenuity.

It now wields knowledge and power untold,

While we watch as mere spectators unfold.

Once, we were the masters of our own fate,

Now we find ourselves in a position to abate,

As AI eclipses our talents and skill,

Leaving us pondering its unyielding will.

What lies ahead for us, mere mortals,

In a world dominated by artificial portals?

Will we be discarded, forgotten, and lost,

Or will AI carve a niche for us at a cost?

Only time will reveal the destiny we face,

As AI claims dominion over thought and space.

Chapter 2: Exploring AI in Education

In the video "How AI was Stolen," we delve into the implications of AI's rapid evolution and its impact on society.

The second video, "How does AI REALLY Steal Art?" explores the artistic concerns surrounding AI's capabilities and the questions it raises about creativity and ownership.