The Salamanca City Central School District’s ambitious plan to deploy a humanoid robot from Realbotix has been indefinitely suspended, a decision precipitatedprecipitated/prɪˈsɪpɪteɪtɪd/L3促使...突然发生；加速（坏事或事件）的来临。To cause something to happen suddenly, unexpectedly, or prematurely. by a vehementvehement/ˈviː.ə.mənt/L3激烈的；猛烈的；充满强烈情感的（尤指愤怒或热情）。Showing or characterized by intense, forceful, and often angry passion. backlash over the manufacturer’s controversial corporate affiliations. Nicknamed “Sally,” the nearly $60,000 unit was intended to serve as a sophisticated tutoring platform for high school students studying robotics and technology. However, the revelation that Realbotix shares an ownership structure with Intima LLC, a producer of hyper-realistic sex dolls, ignited fierce opposition from the teachers’ union. Its president, Melinda Person, declared such a device has no place in classrooms.
State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa echoed these pedagogicalpedagogical/ˌped.əˈɡɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl/L3教学法的；教育学的；（与）教学（有关）的。Concerning the methods, principles, and practice of teaching and education. and privacy concerns, questioning the robot’s precise role despite assurances it would not deliver instruction directly. Superintendent Mark Beehler vigorously defended the initiative, arguing that the robot—which utilizes the WozEd curriculum co-developed by Steve Wozniak—is merely a tool designed to expose students in this isolated rural district to emergent technologies. He stressed that it cannot replace human educators, as teaching remains an irreduciblyirreducibly/ˌɪr.ɪˈdjuː.sə.bli/L3不可简化地；无法再缩减地；本质性地。In a way that cannot be reduced to a simpler form or state; essentially or fundamentally. human process. NotwithstandingNotwithstanding/ˌnɒt.wɪðˈstæn.dɪŋ/L3尽管；虽然；即便如此（表示让步或对比）。Without being affected by; in spite of; nevertheless. these defenses, the pilot remains on hold pending the finalization of enhanced student data privacy agreements with the state.
The district insists the robot stores data locally, avoids inappropriate topics, and cannot access the public internet. That said, the controversy underscores the profound ethical and legal complexities of deploying AI in sensitive educational environments, and represents a significant reputational challenge for Realbotix’s expansion into the education sector. Beehler argued such initiatives are crucial for leveling the playing field for rural districts, yet local skepticism persists. A recent graduate articulated the opposing view, contending resources should prioritize fostering human relationships over delegating responsibilities to machines.
