IPods in study hall?

    Just imagine for a moment, several student are sitting peacefully in study hall doing their algebra and listening to their ipods without distraction.  But no, our school thinks that it would be too distracting to listen to music while doing homework, when in reality, it's completely the opposite.

Most students I know find it much harder to concentrate without music because music helps them tune out background noise.  Students who have nothing to do in study hall can be loud and obnoxious, distracting everyone from their work, but with iPods, that problem would be solved. You could just simply start up some music and not be able to hear them at all, and concentrate on your work.  Then students with nothing to do would be able to pass the time by listening to music instead of being loud and distracting others.  And personally, I can concentrate much better while listening to music and find it much easier to complete my work without distraction.

Besides, as long as students aren’t playing games on the ipod and just have it for music to help them concentrate, why does school not allow them?  Are they just trying to show their authority, or are they afraid of students listening to inappropriate music?  Are they afraid of us having it too loud so everyone can hear it?  That’s why I think that along with the privilege of having ipods we would also need rules along with them,  such as, you can’t have it loud enough for others to hear it, no playing games, and you can only have the ipod for music.  

Also, if school is afraid of students listening to inappropriate music I personally think that that is the students’ choice and as long as they have it quiet enough for no one else to hear that that is really a very big problem.  Besides even if school didn’t allow them to listen to “inappropriate” music what’s going to stop them from listening to it outside of school?  I think that if that is the only reason why they wouldn't allow iPods in study hall, that is a very close-minded view and that the school board should reconsider their decision because students will still listen to that genre of music outside of school.

So as you can see, allowing iPods in study hall has many more positive aspects than negative.  I sincerely hope that the school board will reconsider their decision because I believe that it would benefit the students greatly.  I also think that I would be able to get a lot more accomplished if I could listen to music in study hall.