In an era where the line between technology and humanity is becoming increasingly blurry, Cannon Falls Area Schools are now implementing a new rule, forcing students to be equipped with brain chips. These brain chips are supposed to enhance cognitive abilities, enable faster and easier learning, and help students retain information longer. What could possibly go wrong?
No one – especially the students – could have anticipated the changes they would undergo once they had these particular brain chips. Initially, the concept of students using brain chips sounded like a dream. Imagine: all the access to all of the information in the world in an instant. Students who had previously spent hours reading textbooks or attending lectures could now download entire lessons and research any information they need within their own brains.
It sounded like the academic utopia everyone needs. No more late night studying or procrastination, right? Wrong. Instead, the results have been nothing short of chaotic.
“I swear I tried to study for my history exam,” says Anya Nygaard, an 8th grader, “but all I could think about was a recipe for chocolate chip cookies that I read in my biology textbook, followed by the ABCs in Spanish, and then…” It turns out, the brain chip does not have a “filter” setting, and students have been overwhelmed and bombarded with an unending wave of random information, most of which has absolutely no relevance to their current situation. Students’ minds are now in a whirlwind of data – most of which is completely unnecessary.
Some students have had some troubles with malfunctioning or glitches in their chips. Some of the causes of these glitches are emotional instability or unstable information retainability.
“I was trying to write an essay on climate change, but suddenly started crying uncontrollably about a cereal commercial I saw last Tuesday.” says Elliot Iverson, one of the students with a broken chip.
Some students have also noticed a harder time trying to debate on topics, or creating their own opinion.
In Communications 9, students often have to make speeches about opinionated topics. Lots of students are now failing due to the inability to focus. Most students are blaming this on their malfunctioning brain chips, although some teachers think that students are slacking off because they know that they now have a new excuse.
Some kids have also found a way to download video games or apps on their chips, like Fortnite or Tiktok. It is hard to tell when they are using these apps. They look like they are zoning out, but their eyes are still moving.
Parents have also been complaining about the focus of their kids at home. Chores have been becoming progressively harder and harder for kids to do due to their limited focus period. Parents, teachers, administrators, and countless others have been complaining to the school district about this new rule.
The biggest problem is that once a brain chip is implanted, it can’t be removed. Large numbers of parents are now contemplating whether or not to sue the school for permanent damage to their children’s education.
