“The 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,” Linda Doherty and Jordan Baker report for The Sydney Morning Herald.
“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,” Doherty and Baker report. “‘I think iPods are fantastic, they’re brilliant pieces of technology but kids don’t need them at school,’ she said.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Banning is always nice, but what if the school had actually tried to incorporate the popular iPod into the curriculum instead? You know, like Duke University? Oh wait, that might have encouraged learning and increased participation instead of fostering resentment and also would have required creative thought by a school principal. Silly us!
“Banning is always nice…”
LOL! More, please.
Wow, next thing you know they will start banning books, after all, a good book causes me to shut out everything else. This is insane.
Look who’s talking about isolation – Australians.
Incorporating the iPod into the curriculum hardly works (or at least isn’t a sure thing, see this article: http://www.thmacobserver.com/article/2005/03/01.1.shtml) for college freshman. It’s even less likely to work with younger kids. Also, a vast number of students may already have iPods, but what about those that don’t? In this case, I doubt it would make good fiscal sense for the school to buy the extras, and definitely not worth making the parents buy them!
magic word: normal. as in, It’s perfectly normal and OK to *not* have an iPod! I do love mine though!
Yes, you could probably label me an Apple fanatic, but I’ve gotta agree with this. Not for the interaction…I think most of the socialization learned at school is negative (sorry, that’s another story) but they’re there to learn, not listen to tunes. They’d get much more out of reading a book than listening to music. Sorry I can’t site them right now, but yes, studies have been done and reading comprehension is lower with ambient distractions; so you can’t pull the listening while they read thing either. BTW I’m a music teacher and I’m saying all this.
Obviously the presence of this many iPods has been detrimental to the school’s educational goals. Therefore, they’re in the way. Schools don’t TYPICALLY go around banning things just for the hell of it.
MDN, when you’ve got a school administration degree, education degree, and several years experience in both capacities, I’d love to hear your take.
Right on, Dan LaMee.
“…because they lead to ‘social isolation.’
either that or the ipod has created a whole nother strata of society. either one.
I totally agree with this decision. Music players have no place in grammar or high school. It absolutely shuts people out. Every time I see someone walking down the street talking on a cell or headphones on, it reminds me what a strange society we live in. People tuning out is not good for an evolving culture. Oh, I’m one of those who is in favor of making talking on cell phones illegal while driving in every state unless an emergency exists. Why the hell people can’t just enjoy life, other people, nature, and all the other great things life has to offer is beyond me. Turn up the music and the world melts away creating more sociopaths. OK, maybe I’m exaggerating, but you get the idea.
I suppose the iPod can promote isolation, but it can also do just the opposite. In fact, in many cases I think it makes it easier for people to be social. For example it can be kind of an ice breaker, “Hey, nice iPod”, “What are you listening to on your iPod?”, “What music do you listen to?” etc…
You can isolate yourself or become more social, it depends on the person, not the technology. An isolationist is going to find a way to be anti-social regardless of whether he has an iPod or not. The iPod just makes it easier to be who you already are. Banning the iPod just shows their ignorance.
Unless all students were given an iPod, à la Duke, iPod related learning enhancements wouldn’t be possible. With this in mind, the ban seems pretty logical.
Anti-social behaviour gets a bad rap. I wish more people would shut the fsck up about their mundane, boring, meaningless bullshit lives and slap on a pair of iPod earbuds (and put a bag over their ugly mug, too). I’m sick of hearing idiots yap away unceasingly and I’m sick of looking at their fat, bloated, stupid faces while their traps flap ad infinitum.
– Written while listening to my iPod at full blast during class. Fsck you!
I agree with those that say that the iPod has no place in education, but instead of banning it, they should just enforce a rule that it must not interfere with the education. Just like Cell phones in schools – cell phones can be very advantageous for students to have, but only as long as they don’t have them on during class. I had a one hour study period during school, and sometimes I would listen to music while I did homework – I can’t see any harm in something like that. Banning just seems to be an excessive measure.
iMaki,
I think you’re view of the cell phone is a bit extreme. You say “Why can’t people just enjoy…other people” etc., but that is exactly what they are doing when they are on the cell phone. They are enjoying the conversation with the person they are talking to, which might be a conversation about how great nature and life is. Personally, I’m not going to strike up a conversation with some stranger on the street, so it doesn’t bother me if they happen to be listening to headphones as they pass me.
Now, there is nothing I hate more than hearing a person on their cell phone in a restaurant or theater or other, but I don’t think it’s indicative of the strange society in which we live. Yes, it shuts people out, but would they really be talking to everyone anyway? What are they going to talk about, the weather? Most conversations are extrememly pointless the way it is, why not enjoy your personal time with headphones and if you want some company, call your friend on your cell and have a meaningful conversation instead of mindlessly bantering about the weather or sports or some other subject that you really don’t care about.
iPod didn’t come out until my first year of college, but when I was in high school, we weren’t allowed to bring walkmans, cell phones, etc. because they were considered “distracting” even though only an idiot would actually try to listen to a CD DURING class.
“Escape from our Community”, I think there are far greater risks for youth escaping from our community than the ipod. Pretty amazing though. It certainly speaks volumes for the power of the ipod. I heard they were banning Creative’s mp3 players because they caused Brain damage. Now thats a worry!!
Another bashing from (sad bloggers) MDN. You’re not at your first one today are you?
lets bash our mums, teachers and professors who decided to restrict and ban things for our own good. Let’s start bashing the parents of MDN bloggers and see how they feel about it.
One thing they missed doing to them, is restricting them from having creamy desert whenever they told or repeated something stupid like they do it today.
Peace out punks
king_alvarez,
Yes, a less extreme measure would be desirable, but how do you enforce a rule like “…must not interfere with education.”? Rules need to be cut and dried. The only thing short of a total ban that I see as feasable would be to limit the times they are ok. “Before and after school is ok, but not during school hours”, or “study hall and lunch is ok, but not during free time in a regularly scheduled class”, for example.
Boeing777,
What are you moaning about? MDN did write that “Banning is always nice.”
“Sorry I can’t site them right now, but yes, studies have been done and reading comprehension is lower with ambient distractions; so you can’t pull the listening while they read thing either.”
I have the opposite experience – I can only concentrate enough to read mroe than a paragraph with music playing, regardless of content (magazines, science journals, newpaper). I know, it’s anecdotal evidence – I must be an outlier.
“Why the hell people can’t just enjoy life, other people, nature, and all the other great things life has to offer is beyond me. “
Presumably, while talking on a cell phone while walking down the street, the person may actually be enjoying interacting with someone at the other end! On my walk to work, the only people that ever try to interact with me are homeless folks asking for money. I can still give them some change even if I’m on the phone or listening to my iPod. If you like to interact with strangers on the street, more power to you! But from my experience, you’re in the minority. Also, one of my primary ways of enjoying life is listening to music. I can enjoy nature at the same time. Having spent a large portion of my early years enjoying nature from the vantage point of a tractor in the middle of corn field, I know the power of the connection to another person via the fruits of their creative process. Again, if you enjoy like to enjoy nature with no other inputs, great. Just don’t assume that everyone wants it that way.
I agree that the iPod shouldn’t be used in class. However, in terms of social isoaltion, I am a lot more concerned about how the social structure within schools can ostracize children at the low end of the hierarchy.
probably a fanatic,
“limit the times they are ok. “Before and after school is ok, but not during school hours”, or “study hall and lunch is ok, but not during free time in a regularly scheduled class”, for example.”,
– That’s exactly what I was thinking of, I guess I just didn’t word it correctly. I’m sure some schools have banned cell phones from the classroom, and the same can be done with the iPod. ex – “Fine if you want to bring your iPod to school, but it doesn’t come into the classroom.”
Now,
Normally the dude would say this is BS…. but if you really think about it… we are a populous of “leave me alone” people. iPods could contribute to this. If the problem is that bad and so many people have them that no one is socializing, then it is an issue.
iPods have their uses… but maybe school for youths (not young adults in college) is not one of them. Don’t lambaste this principle for her decision. She is looking out for the children how she sees best. I doubt she is a Microsoft loving person who is out to destroy the iPod. Give her some slack. Let the PARENTS of the students complain if they feel it is an issue. It is their child who is affect not us.
The Dude abides.
My only issue with this news piece is that there is no mention if discmans etc are also banned. If they are, then I don’t see an issue – if they are banned, then iPods should be too.
A school has the right to dictate what is brought onto the school grounds, and even more so, as educators they have a better idea of what is distracting.
MDN’s take is laughable for a number of reasons:
1) If they incorporated the iPod into the curriculum (whilst that would be good for Apple’s bottom line) it would force a lot of parents that may not have the wish to buy iPods for their children
2) Duke University is at a WHOLE different level to a high school. Timetables, academic rules, etc etc are huge documents, and an iPod is a clever way of disseminating this information. For a high school, generally you turn up, you take your classes, you sit exams etc – you don’t get student handbooks the size of telephone books.
If this is an effort by a school to encourage teenagers to socialise with eachotehr more, I do not see a problem. Our society has enough opportunity for people to avoid others if they wish. It is also good preperation for the REAL world (not MDN’s fantasy Apple land), where in their jobs these kids wont be able to just tune the rest of their collegues out with an iPod for the whole of their working lives. MOST jobs require you to interact with other human beings.
My nephew does not have the ability to take down hand writen notes very quickly. His option is to either haul around a laptop or record lectures, and write the notes down later.
A laptop isn’t very practical because it is heavy and battery life isn’t long enough to get him through a day and they are distracting to other students.
The iPod isn’t the only device for dictation, but as you can see they can have a place in the classroom.
some very good comments… heres the email address for the school
admin@igssyd.nsw.edu.au
you know what to do
Yes, I know what to do – leave the Principal and her decision alone. Do NOT email her, youare merely wasting you own time, and that of an educator who has realised that the place for an entertainment device is NOT in a school class room, where it is shutting children off from the world and NOT allowing them to learn effectively.
If a school administrator in Sydney Australia makes a decision to prevent children from wasting time at school, why do so many people, who have absolutely nothing to do with that school, feel the need to comment and complain about her actions. Get a life you idiots.
The school is a private school where parent pay for a quality education and results to match. Banning the use of iPods whilst in class will ensure this is achieved.
“Sorry I can’t site them right now, but yes, studies have been done and reading comprehension is lower with ambient distractions; so you can’t pull the listening while they read thing either.”
I have the opposite experience – I can only concentrate enough to read mroe than a paragraph with music playing, regardless of content (magazines, science journals, newpaper). I know, it’s anecdotal evidence – I must be an outlier
—-
BULL
Music distracts the brain. Actually the reason we love the musical aspect of music is because of the interweaving patterns, the brain gets a little workout from following the patterns, which, obeying common musical scales, end up sounding pleasant. The music begins, climaxes and comes full circle, in about 3 minutes.
Now.. if you’re listening to anything with lyrics in it.. you’re not going to be able to read at your optimum level. If it’s not even music, your brain is still paying attention, tracing musical patterns, pointing them out to you, etc.. you’re still not reading at an optimal level.
Put it this way.. if you were Clinton, getting a blow, would you be able to effectively peruse the latest forms/documents and make a quick decision on their respective orders of importance?
Of course not.. well that’s an extreme case of what I’m talking about..
Sorry if I sound bitter, my roommate says he can’t sleep without rap music on.. WTF is that.. I usually can’t even sleep with my computer fan on.. let alone Biggie Smalls