Upholding the Original Mission of Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Why“Teaching and Nurturing the Whole Person” Matters More Than Ever
I. AI Can Transmit Knowledge but Cannot Shape Character
The power of AI lies in its ability to process information and generate knowledge at remarkable speed. It can answer questions, recommend resources, and optimize learning pathways. Yet genuine education extends beyond “teaching” in the narrow sense. Its fundamental task is “nurturing”—helping students develop sound character, ethical values, and a positive outlook on life.
Artificial intelligence can explain what things are and how to do them, but it lacks moral judgment and cannot answer the deeper questions of why something matters or whether it ought to be done. For example, AI can assist with writing assignments but cannot instill honesty and responsibility; it can present historical facts yet cannot guide students in reflecting on justice and humanity.
II. The AI Era Demands Stronger Emotional Intelligence and Moral Awareness
As AI permeates every industry, repetitive and mechanical tasks are increasingly automated. Future societies will value creativity, critical thinking, communication, moral judgment, and emotional intelligence above routine skills. These core competencies are not acquired through rote knowledge accumulation; they emerge from authentic interpersonal experiences and the guidance, modeling, and care provided by educators.
Teachers, as “cultivators of people,” bear responsibility not only for imparting knowledge but also for awakening students to life’s meaning, social responsibility, and human relationships. The educator’s words and actions, emotional connection, and individualized understanding of each learner are irreplaceable educational processes beyond the reach of any algorithm.
III. AI Should Serve “Teaching and Nurturing,” Not Replace the Essence of Education
As a technical tool, AI ought to serve the fundamental goals of education. It can enhance instructional efficiency, refine curriculum design, and help teachers address individual differences—thereby enabling more effective, differentiated teaching. Yet education is ultimately “people-centered,” not “technology-centered.”
“Teaching and nurturing” emphasizes the humanistic dimension of schooling. Nurturing is a process of interpersonal interaction, grounded in emotion, trust, and shared values. If education leans too heavily on technology and neglects human connection, it risks becoming “de-humanized,” diminishing its power to mold character, spirit, and values.
IV. Cultivating “Masters” of the AI Age, Not Mere Dependents
If schooling limits itself to “teaching,” students may grow into mere operators or executors of technology. By contrast, when education insists on “nurturing,” they can become the creators and guides of the AI era. The mission of education today is clear: foster individuals who can harness technology, judge its ethical implications, and direct it toward the common good, rather than those who simply depend on it.
Achieving this goal requires intellectual training, but even more, it demands character formation, moral guidance, and the strengthening of will. Only then can humanity preserve stable values and the brilliance of human nature amid rapid technological change.
V. Education Bears the Responsibility of Cultural Transmission and Spiritual Continuity
AI can generate text, simulate dialogue, and even compose poetry, yet it cannot comprehend the deeper essence of culture or willingly assume the mission of cultural inheritance. Education is not merely the transfer of knowledge; it is also the transmission of culture and the perpetuation of spirit.
“Teaching and nurturing” obliges educators to help students recognize their cultural roots, understand their social context, and develop historical consciousness and moral sensibility. Through language, behavior, classroom atmosphere, and curriculum, teachers convey cultural stances and value orientations, fostering respect for humanity and responsibility toward society.
Conclusion: Never Lose Sight of Education’s Original Intention
As AI reshapes educational practice, we must rethink the fundamental mission of schooling. Knowledge can be automatically generated, but character cannot; technology can enhance efficiency, but it cannot guide values. The true value of education lies in the integrated process of “teaching and nurturing,” whereby learners become well-rounded, independent thinkers who care for others, assume responsibility, and face an uncertain future with confidence.
The Chinese educator Tao Xingzhi once said, “Of all the teachings, teach people to seek truth; of all the learnings, learn to become a genuine person.” This is the profound meaning of “teaching and nurturing”—and it is precisely the educational essence that no form of artificial intelligence can ever replace.
