We emailed parties and candidates to ask their stance on GenAI and chatbots in classrooms. The full email is included below. > [!info]- Email to candidates (click to expand) > We are [PACES Vancouver](https://www.aicaution.ca/), a group of parents who are **concerned about the integration of GenAI and chatbots into BC classrooms** despite significant academic research on AI’s **harmful** impacts on students' learning, cognitive development and mental health. > > To name a few recent scientific results: > - One recent [study of over 26,000 highschool students](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-power-of-experience/202606/a-study-of-26000-students-shows-the-ai-learning-trap "study of over 26,000 highschool students") found that **as AI was rolled out** district-by-district, homework scores rose by 18%, and **exam scores fell by 20%**. > - The recent [OECD PISA 2025 report](https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/pisa-2025-results-volume-i_73451bc5-en.html "OECD PISA 2025 report") said _"students who do **not** use AI outperform those who do ... equivalent to being around one year of schooling ahead of their peers."_ > (We have [further scientific research on our website](https://aicaution.ca/learn/why-a-pause/ "further scientific research on our website")) > > Based on this evidence, in April 2026, we launched a petition asking the Ministry of Education and Child Care in British Columbia for a [two-year pause on AI in schools](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/pause-on-generative-ai-in-bc-schools). With over 2300 signatures, we know this is a topic that matters to people in BC. Teachers are also [extremely skeptical of the promise of AI](https://aicaution.ca/news/bctf-survey/ "extremely skeptical of the promise of AI"), with **only 16%** of surveyed BCTF teachers think that AI will improve student learning outcomes. > > The idea of pausing AI in schools is also gaining popularity outside of BC. Earlier this month **New York City** and **Los Angeles** school districts both enacted **[pauses on AI in classrooms](https://www.forbes.com/sites/gabrielalinzainescu/2026/09/03/nyc-bans-classroom-ai-through-8th-grade-putting-edtech-on-notice/ "pauses on AI in classrooms")**, affecting nearly a million students. > > > Given the evidence of harm and the popularity of this issue, we have been contacting candidates in school trustee elections across BC and asking: > - As a trustee candidate, what is your position on AI chatbots in education? > - If elected, would you work to remove, or keep out, AI chatbots from classrooms? > > > We have already had responses from some candidates within BC, and are [highlighting them on our website](https://aicaution.ca/vsb/trustee-elections-2026/ "highlighting them on our website") and social media. > > Our community wants to see young adults who can think for themselves, human to human relationships, and care for our shared environment and we need your help in making this happen! > > Warmly, > > Ben Humphreys, Desy Wahyuni > PACES Vancouver, parents, allies, and their kids > [https://aicaution.ca/](https://aicaution.ca/) See which parties candidates responded, whether they support a pause on AI and what their detailed response was.