Digital MP3 Players In The Classroom: Thoughts From A HighSchool Student

Way back in November, I wrote a post regarding my observations on the use of MP3 players in the classroom. Yesterday, I received a comment from a highschool student on this post, and it’s definitely worth replicating here. It reads:

I am a high school student, and right now, the school I am attending is in the process of trying to ban mp3 players at my school. I am highly opposed to this action for several reasons, mainly those reasons listed above, but others as well. I don’t want to seem overly critical of my school because I’m greatful for the education it provides, but my school does seem to have a problem with adapting to the changes of society and it’s youth. Case in point being iPods and other mp3 players in classrooms. The panel in charge of making district policy doesn’t seem to be able to embrace new technology and use it to their advantage. Alec seems to understand that there is a use for music in the class. From personal experience, I know that listening to music can distract me from other distractions. Also, it is much easier for me to concentrate on my work when I can’t hear everyone around me. I can zone in and concentrate. The people at my school opposed to allowing mp3 players in the class constitute the minority at my school. I can’t give exact figures, but i can say that over half the teachers at my school are willing to let students have there music in class. But the others are the ones who yell the loudest and push the hardest. Right now, I am writing a proposal to the school board, asking them to change their views on policy regarding mp3 players and allow teachers to decide whether or not music will be allowed in their classrooms. In my opinion, the decision of whether or not music should be allowed in the class should be left to the teacher. Blanket policies like the one the school board panel is trying to enact only takes away a teachers ability to govern their classroom.

So here’s a student who’s willing to write a post regarding what he believes in, and continues to push for change in his school … change that will benefit his own education. His telling words, “my school does seem to have a problem with adapting to the changes of society and it’s youth” hits the issue dead-on.

Good luck Peter! Thanks for sharing your thoughts with the blogosphere, and I know there are many of us that wish you the best of success in your fight. We just wish you didn’t have to.

22 thoughts on “Digital MP3 Players In The Classroom: Thoughts From A HighSchool Student”

We need to hear more from students. Thanks Alec for posting this. Let’s encourage each other to find these voices.

this article say they should ban music in the school well i think music should be aloud in school because people can concentrate better on there work.thats what i think cool article

I listen to music during class and get all my work done correctly fastest. I also used my mp3 during exams (not in the actual exam) as a way of revising, and on that exam I got the highest mark in the class of a B+.

Cool … thanks Patrick for sharing!

i like ipods.

Buddy, yer mad. I loves me tunes on me face. They gets me pumped for that ol’ math and anglish. cuz when i beeze pumpin that g-unit, i feels like smacking a bitch. So, mp3 players are da gear nigg nigg!

i think mp3 players should be let in the class room coz it helps the pupils concentrate much better so they do more work.

http://www.splashesfromtheriver.com/music-enhances-learning.htm

A very interesting article about this same thing.
It is proven to enhance learning in some children. Music classes have helped improve verbal memorization, as well. My school has just recently allowed MP3 players at certain times, and all of the students have taken advantage of it. It is much more quiet now, and all of the students are concentrating. Great article Alec.

i think mp3 players should be alllowed because it hase been proven that music helps increase IQ’s and test scores… most of all consentration….

I will love having MP3 players in school because i think it make us pay in class and we will not get in trouble in class like study hall.

Of course music is a fun to listen to. I think that Schools should make it a big deal. I love to listen to my music while I do my work in class. When the teacher starts talking I just simply take my earphones out of ears to listen to the instructions.

Schools who ban music devices are so unreasonable. They have no idea the importance of music among our generation. Rather then my peers “sneakingly” listening to thier music, I think they should be allowed. I hate how Authority has the power to take away something so important as music. Whats next?!

music rocks teachers hate and i think the bored of educations should be allow mp3 players to be active in the class rooms.

Note the poor spelling of these kids who want to use technology.

Schools who ban music devices are so unreasonable. They have no idea the importance of music among our generation. Rather then my peers â€œsneakinglyâ€ listening to thier music, I think they should be allowed. I hate how Authority has the power to take away something so important as music. Whats next?!

I agree. I f they don’t want us to have cell phones in school, why don’t they do the stuff we do. Math, Arithmetic, science, social studies, etc.. Once they find out how hard this stuff actually is they will probably allow us to have phones of MP3 players.(Ipod Touch)