This story, originally reported by WCVB, centers on a lawsuit filed by Jennifer and Dale Harris against Hingham High School after their son was penalized for using AI to assist with a history paper.
The Harris family claims the school lacked clear guidelines on AI use, with language regarding AI only added to the handbook after their son’s case emerged. Jennifer emphasized that their son used AI solely for research, not writing, arguing, “They punished him for a rule that doesn’t exist.”
Their son, an academically high-achieving student with a perfect ACT score, faced detention and a lowered grade, jeopardizing his chances of getting into top-tier colleges and barring him from the National Honor Society. “He’s missed the opportunity already for rolling admissions,” Jennifer added, expressing frustration over the impact of the incident.
Dale Harris believes the school violated their son’s civil rights by treating him more harshly than other students. “You can’t undo the punishments,” he said, but noted that certain measures could still be corrected to “do the right thing.”
Peter Farrell, the family’s attorney, stressed the need for clarity in school policies, stating, “There’s a wide gulf of information out there that says AI isn’t plagiarism.” The lawsuit aims to push for clearer AI guidelines and policies that teachers and students can understand.
The case highlights the challenges schools face as AI becomes more integrated into education, raising questions about where to draw the line between using AI as a research tool and academic dishonesty.