No more songs in their pockets: school bans iPods (2 Viewers)

[Arvin Sloane]

he teenagers' gadget of choice, the iPod, has been banned by a Sydney private school because they lead to "social isolation".

The principal of International Grammar School, Kerrie Murphy, said her decision to ban the palm-sized stereos, which can hold up to 10,000 songs, coincided with the international debate on how "people were not tuning into other people because they're tuned into themselves".

She was also worried that students using iPods could not hear teachers, that the iPods put stress on ears when played at high volumes and were a security risk. "They allow students to avoid communication with others and may lead to social isolation or escape from our community," she told parents in a letter last week.

Mrs Murphy said yesterday that significant numbers of her Ultimo secondary school's 500 students had shown up at the start of new year with iPods, presumably given to them as Christmas presents.

"I think iPods are fantastic, they're brilliant pieces of technology but kids don't need them at school," she said.

"It's important for kids to be talking to one another at school, socialising and being part of a community. That's why they come to school, to be connected." And she said parents had thanked the school for the ban, which requires students bringing iPods to school to place them in a locked drawer until home time.

However, year 11 and 12 students are not so congratulatory and complained they had not been consulted.

They said about 80 per cent of their classmates owned iPods or discmans and that most listened to them on the bus, at lunchtime and in the classroom because it helped them focus.

"It puts me in a state of mind where I can black out everything else. It keeps me calm," Nick Stubbs, 16, said. "It's an individuality we have. The type of music we listen to says who we are."

The students said the iPods did not make them antisocial. "There are two earphones. If people have music, you can go up and ask them" to share the music through the other earpiece, said a 16-year-old female student.

However, Nick's mother, Julie Claessens, supports the ban and says that both iPods and mobile phones are an unnecessary distraction. "They can listen to it [iPods] out of hours like everybody else," she said.

International Grammar does not ban mobiles, like some other private schools, but puts restrictions on them.

The NSW executive director of the Association of Independent Schools, Geoff Newcombe, said iPods could distract students, impede their safety and stop them communicating with classmates. "It's an emerging issue for schools," he said.

The executive officer of the NSW Parents Council, Duncan McInnes, said schools had a role to develop students socially as well as academically. "It's pretty useless if students plug out and listen to their own music," he said.

But Sharryn Brownlee, president of the NSW Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations, said iPods were just the latest fad - following on from Walkmans and Tamagotchis. She said they should be allowed in schools as long as they were not used inappropriately or during lessons. "If you're sitting on the bus for an hour in the morning ... then you may as well have an iPod to keep you company," she said.

The Premier, Bob Carr, announced on March 7 that public students bringing mobile phones to school would need parental permission, in a policy aimed at minimising bullying by text message.

More than 10 million iPods have been sold worldwide since their introduction in 2001. They sell for as little as $149.

I wonder if that school receives grants from microsoft?

 

[gibbo67]

i always figured that the banning of expensive electronics was more of a security issue regarding theft and subsequent identification afterward, which many pieces don't have, and ipods don't come cheaply either.

as for social isolation - if you're sitting on a crowded bus or train during peak hour where social isolation exists, no-one gives two seconds of thought to what the stranger next to them is doing anyway, so you're merely filling in time doing what you want to do.

 

[wasted_emotions]

My school hasnt banned iPods. I still take mine everyday and listen to it all day.. my teachers dont seem to care. Only thing that got banned was camera fones, cuz sum guy took a foto up some teachers dress, but everyone still brings them so meh...

 

[eljay080]

nothing id banned my school, but they find you using a mobile in school hours they take it away until the end of the day!

 

[eljay080]

and then what happened?
LOL

 

[Serius]

they banned camera phones cause some guy took a photo up a teachers dress? bahahaa omg thats a good one omg how did he come up with the idea to do that? didnt she realise there was a phone between her legs descreetly making photo capture sounds?
that is a classic man, if people at my school heard of that iam sure it would become the latest craze.

only ipods banned right? so i can take my mp3 player to school? or if i had an iriver or a creative i could take it to school aswell?

 

[eljay080]

LOL, but thanks anyway

 

[MuffinMan]

you could always have other mp3 players

 

[SashatheMan]

My school hasnt banned iPods. I still take mine everyday and listen to it all day.. my teachers dont seem to care. Only thing that got banned was camera fones, cuz sum guy took a foto up some teachers dress, but everyone still brings them so meh...

was the teacher some fat old sweaty hag?

 

[eljay080]

I wouldn't think so, hopefully not!!!

 

[darkling_lady]

Ipods, discmen, phones... all the digital stuff have been banned at our school. We can't use them before school, aftr school, during recess and lunch... It's rediculous! Apparently it makes us 'isolated' and 'unsociable'. Funnily enough, we're still allowed to shut ourselves in the library and spend recess and lunch on the computer or reading a book. Their reasons are rediculous, and their rules are rediculous! Thankfully, I only have 203 days left of this narkiness! *sigh of relief*

 

[HotShot]

how is it social isolation?

the ipod bring music into conversions, we discuss what songs are in it, how to hack it and do wierd stuff with it. In a way if you dont have one or dont talk about one or dont want one (in this case any mp3), then you are socially isolated.

 

[Tulipa]

My school has banned every kind of musical device and phones... for yrs7-10. us senior students can use whatever we want (except for the phones dammit..). It's a good idea i think because we're the only year groups that have study periods. i'm listening to my ipod now :uhhuh: its so sweet to drown out the stupid conversation that is going on right now. I adore the social isolation, perfect way to tune people out.

 

[Original_Angel]

i think it's kinda like a good idea
because truthfully, many people i know get so distracted by music, phones etc in class which hinders the learning process for others - cuz the teacher is made to deal with them and all

but it kinda sux aswell - cuz i know that some people work better with music [so long as they dont start singing in class *gargghh*]

ahh, i guess im kinda undecided on this issue - maybe just not letting kids listen to em in class is a good enough idea

btw.. i was watching today tonight or whatever [which covered this] and they were saying that it can lead to depression - someone explain.

 

[Not-That-Bright]

I'd ban them not only for the distraction but because they're such a great target for theives.

 

[HotShot]

thieves

thieves can steal anything including your wallet, lunch and so on....
lets ban all of that as welll shall we!

 

[Not-That-Bright]

you're an idiot hotshot,
A theif may yes steal money.. but that's only going to be around $50 at most...

An ipod is an attractive target because it's small, expensive, and easy to sell.

 

[champ_sammy_19]

you're an idiot hotshot,
A theif may yes steal money.. but that's only going to be around $50 at most...

An ipod is an attractive target because it's small, expensive, and easy to sell.

this is one time i agree with Not-That-Bright, but on the other hand they are a good idea to block out the useless crap in class :uhhuh:

 

[ur_inner_child]

looks like everything crappy happened after i left highschool

i love my ipod and i like eating junk food thank you

 

[stainmepink]

jesus. some schools just go too far.

honestly, putting people in misery just for the sake of what they think is correct. ipod isnt a social barrier idiots. i think the principal should listen more carefully to the students.