Should students be allowed to use headphones to listen to music during study hall?

The Impact of Technology on Education

The twenty-first century is marked by a technological transformation in all industries. In the education market, for example, instructional strategies have shifted to a focus on technology gadgets such as computers and tablets. Despite the fact that technology improves the standard of education, there are times when it is detrimental to both the student and the quality of education.

The Debate Over Listening to Music During Study Hall

For example, there is a heated debate over whether students should wear headphones to listen to music during study hall. In reaction to this debate, no students should be permitted to listen to music by headphones due to the negative consequences that would be felt in the long run.

Impact on Concentration and Understanding

Listening to music through headphones during study hall means that the student would not be in a position to follow the concept being studied. Instead, the mind will be pre-occupied on music rather than grasping content being studied. As a result, the student would not grasp anything, and the study session would be a total waste. Importantly, a majority of the school curriculum requires undivided attention during personal and group study hours for a high mastery of the previously taught content (Buckingham). Therefore, if students listen to music during study hours, there would be a low level of understanding and comprehend the content being studied. As a result, the students end up achieving a lower grade.

The Impact of Music on Concentration

According to the research study, it was deciphered that during the first few minutes of studying while listening to music students were in a position to concentrate on the reading and could understand some content. However, beyond ten minutes of study, the students began experiencing lower concentration. Importantly, the scientific study indicates that the brain becomes bombarded with the music and the attempt to comprehend the content being read (Buckingham). As a result, the student ends up losing concentration on the study thereby being unable to comprehend and understand the content being studied.

The Purpose of Study and Concentration

The question on whether students should listen to music during study hall can be answered through understanding why the students need to study. The sole purpose of studying is building of knowledge to be applied during tests and in their field of study (Buckingham). The fact that students are not allowed to listen to music during tests or professionals such as doctors are not allowed to listen to music while undertaking surgeries and treatment is enough reason why music should not be encouraged in study hall. The absence of music in study halls enables the upbringing of students who can concentrate naturally without external triggers. Thus, if students use headphones during study halls, in the long run, there will be consequences such as an inability to concentrate on important aspects.

Health Consequences of Listening to Music with Headphones

Summarily, listening to music via headphones in study hall has health consequences. For example, continuous use of headphones has negative repercussions on health. A research study indicates that the use of headphones is equivalent to listening to loud music. As a result, the hearing ability is affected to the extent where cases of deafening have been reported attributed from continuous use of headphones that eventually causes irreversible damage to the eardrum (Portnuff, Brian and Kathryn 668). Additionally, headphones also have the capacity to impact negatively on the psychological well-being of individuals where it induces stress because of continuous pressure exerted on the brain. Thus, students do not need to use headphones in study halls. Instead, the student should aim at getting a quiet environment for maximum concentration.

Work Citations

Buckingham, David. Beyond technology: Children’s learning in the age of digital culture. John Wiley & Sons, 2013.

Portnuff, Cory DF, Brian J. Fligor, and Kathryn H. Arehart. “Teenage use of portable listening devices: A hazard to hearing?.” Journal of the American Academy of Audiology 22.10 (2011): 663-677.