Most students fear public speaking far more than getting a bad grade, but during a recent English class assignment, I witnessed a student find her voice while giving a speech. No, I do not mean that she miraculously spoke audible words. I mean that suddenly a light bulb switched on, and she was completely comfortable making eye contact with us while sharing her research and analysis. She had found her voice. Her calm, confident tone was completely genuine. According to the Indeed Career Guide, “Voice refers to the unique style, personality or perspective of a piece of writing. It can often set the mood or tone and varies by author or the type of work they write.” That student wasn’t just reading off a manuscript to earn a good grade; she was giving voice to her unique style and perspective. No posturing. No hoping that people would like her social media posts. It was real. It was her. It was beautiful.
The CLHS English department recently shared our policy on the use of generative AI technology with our school community because we love helping our students experience moments like this one, when, although they may have previously been nervous or unsure, students discover that they have something important to share with others. The increased availability of generative AI technology means that students could just have a computer program write their speeches or papers for them, but then the voice is not theirs. Generative AI can quickly create multiple essays on any given topic, but they will all have the voice of the computer algorithm. When students use these programs instead of honing their own writing or speaking skills, AI has stolen their voices. Teachers at CLHS strategically use AI programs in the classroom to help students improve some skills such as grammar, so AI is not completely inappropriate for schoolwork. Here at Concordia, though, we believe that God has created each of us as unique individuals and loves each of us despite our flaws. We also believe that He created each of us with a unique voice to share with the world. In Isaiah 40:3, the prophet foretells how God will use John the Baptist’s unique, God-given voice to set the stage for Jesus, our Savior, when he says, “A voice cries: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.’”
God gave each of us a unique voice for a reason. He loves each one of us, not as some abstract algorithmic product, but as his unique child. 1 John 3:1 says, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” Technological advances are not inherently evil, and God is certainly powerful enough to use them for His divine purpose. We just don’t want our students’ voices to get lost in the AI chorus. God is going to use their voices someday.