NYSUT releases statement on Salamanca School District's plan to introduce humanoid robot into classrooms

NYSUT President Melinda Person has released the following statement in response to the Salamanca School District's plan to bring a humanoid robot into classrooms this coming school year.

"A robot built by a company associated with sex dolls has no business in our classrooms. Our students don't need robots. They need real relationships with caring adults.

Educators notice when students are struggling, celebrate when they succeed and help them discover who they can become. No robot can do that, no matter how lifelike its skin or specific its regional accent.

NYSUT is committed to fighting thoughtless expansion of this technology, and we will explore every avenue necessary to protect human-centered learning in Salamanca and in every classroom across this state."

The move by Salamanca's administration comes at a moment when parents, educators, researchers, policymakers and advocates are increasingly coming together to confront what is now widely recognized as a serious problem: the overuse and misuse of technology in educational settings, children's rising exposure to AI and the toll both are taking on learning and mental health.

As part of our ongoing efforts to develop real, student-centric solutions, NYSUT will be hosting a conference this September. Unplugged: Reclaiming Human-Centered Education brings together stakeholders to examine the evidence, challenge assumptions and explore what it takes to create healthier, more balanced learning environments.