I have always been proud of Alton High School and its reputation for quality and excellence. However, recently, I have been disheartened to notice a trend that threatens to tarnish our school's image: the use of generative AI in our school's promotional art. The art produced by AI can look cheap, tacky, and unprofessional, which does not reflect the standards that Alton High School should strive to maintain.

Generative AI can create images rapidly and with less human oversight, but the results often lack the warmth, creativity, intention, and emotional depth that human artists bring to their work. AI-generated imagery can also contain visual inconsistencies, awkward details, and stylistic elements that make promotional materials appear rushed or impersonal. Our school's public image should be represented by work created with care and purpose.

Schools like Alton High should invest in local artists, students, and faculty who have the talent and understanding to create art that truly embodies our school's spirit and values. We already have students interested in art, photography, graphic design, journalism, media production, and other creative fields. Promotional materials could provide these students with meaningful opportunities to gain experience, receive recognition, and build portfolios that may help them pursue college programs or future careers.

Supporting human artistry in schools also promotes creativity among students and encourages them to explore their own unique talents. By relying on AI-generated art, we are missing an opportunity to engage students in artistic projects, showcase genuine creativity, and uplift artists within our own community.

There are also environmental concerns associated with generative AI. AI systems depend on large data centers that require significant amounts of electricity and computing power, while some facilities also use substantial amounts of water for cooling. Although the impact of any single generated image may vary, unnecessary use of generative AI contributes to broader demand for energy and computing resources. When our school already has students, staff, and community members capable of producing high-quality work, using resource-intensive technology simply for promotional imagery is difficult to justify.

There are also questions surrounding authorship and originality. Generative AI systems are trained using enormous collections of existing material, including creative work produced by human artists. Schools should set an example for students by valuing original work, respecting creators, and being transparent about where the images representing our school come from.

This issue is particularly important because schools are supposed to prepare students for the future while also teaching responsibility. Technology can absolutely have a place in education, and this petition is not asking Alton High School to prohibit the educational use of artificial intelligence. Students should be able to learn about AI, understand how it works, and discuss its benefits and limitations. However, there is an important difference between teaching students about a technology and allowing that technology to replace students and other human creators.

Our community values tradition, quality, creativity, and pride. Through thoughtful, human-crafted artwork, we have the opportunity to reflect those values in our shirts, posters, social media graphics, event advertisements, and other promotional materials.

I am asking Alton High School and the Alton Community Unit School District to establish a policy that prioritizes student-created, staff-created, locally commissioned, or properly licensed human-created artwork for official promotional materials. Generative AI imagery should not be used as a replacement for human artists when reasonable alternatives are available.

Our school has talented people capable of creating work that genuinely represents who we are. We should be showcasing them, not replacing them with algorithms.

Join me in urging Alton High School to move away from generative AI in promotional art and instead highlight the talent of students, faculty, local artists, photographers, and designers. Sign this petition to ensure that our school's promotional materials reflect the creativity, environmental responsibility, authenticity, quality, and professionalism our community expects and deserves.