Written by Shane Miller

I think most of Gen-Z and Gen Alpha have experienced a similar situation I had recently, wherein a teacher tells you to “take out your earbud” because it’s “distracting” you. Most teachers treat it extremely seriously, almost as seriously as staring at your phone and scrolling Instagram or TikTok, even if you’re taking notes and participating actively in whatever lesson is being taught that day. Most teachers summarize their thoughts on earbuds by placing up cheap laminated posters around the classroom telling students that earbuds, phones, and pretty much all technological devices are banned from being used in class unless you’re using them to do schoolwork.  Personally, I have my earbuds in almost 24/7, listening to music or a video essay about any topics I’m interested in that day. Having an earbud in (for me at least) is very helpful for concentration and directing my attention away from my phone screen and to the lesson. I’ll use this short opinion piece to explain my point of view on the earbuds debate, and why I think that having an earbud in is often the opposite of distracting-it helps you concentrate and pay attention to the instructor.

The Airpods Pros 2nd Generation Noise-Cancelling Earbuds, which I personally own. (Mike Andronico/CNN)

To start, let’s touch on why teachers are concerned about technology in the classroom-distractions (and new State laws). Many teachers often comment about how students will be “distracted” by their phone, and by extension, their earbuds, while in class. For one example, I was once listening to MF DOOM while in class, when my math teacher (who I like very much, by the way) motioned to my ear and made a joke about the earbud looking like a “UFO”. Though I understand his concerns, the issue I took with it is that I had the earbud in while doing classwork near the end of his period, when there is no instruction going on from the Teacher. I have often noted that music helps me concentrate in classes I struggle with, specifically in Math-one of the subjects which I’ve never really excelled in. Music often allows me to tune out the loud classroom environment around me, and helps me focus on the work at hand-which means I gain more time practicing math and, thus, get better at the subject.

Theodore Arado, UChicago Laboratory HS student, sitting in English class with an earbud in. (Malcom Taylor/U-High Midway Newspaper)

However, there is also a flipside to this coin which many people believe in-that earbuds distract you from listening to your teacher. I cannot lie in the fact that this is often the case in specific courses, like English and Science (where the teacher needs to speak often and direct you). However, in other courses, such as Digital Video Technology (which I take) and APUSH, earbuds can help you pay closer attention to the instructor. For example, in APUSH, my teacher (Mr. Fink) often lets us do work for long periods of time uninterrupted, because APUSH has very long and intense coursework, which requires you to work on it uninterrupted for several minutes at a time. Music helps put you into a sort of “zone”, where your focus is so extreme that any loud interruption (say, your teacher clapping or shouting) will take you out of focus and help you snap to attention.

It is my opinion that earbuds should be allowed (and, depending on the course, encouraged) to be worn in class. From my personal experience listening to music while in class, to being told off by one of my teachers for having an earbud in while in class, I have formed my previously stated opinion.