No matter where you go in Harding, you find students with earbuds or headphones in, no matter the class. However, are these distractions to students? Some teachers believe so, like Mrs. Farley. In her classes, you are not allowed to wear headphones or earbuds. She says that it “allows students to tune out their surroundings and hurts their learning.” She believes that it is okay to wear them in certain situations, such as lunch or study hall, but not in the classroom. When asked if it’s okay if students have them in their ears but not turned on, she says no because it’s hard for her to tell as a teacher if they’re on.
Other teachers, such as Mr. Seymour, believe that it’s okay in some cases. He said that he doesn’t mind if kids have them in, given they’re working independently. When asked if they help him focus, he said “If I’m working on something that’s going to take a long time, I generally put on a movie or a TV show…that small bit of a distraction helps me from getting more distracted..” While he is fine with them in some cases, he suggests that students find other ways to focus.
Some students, however, have different views. Winter Cook, a junior, said that, “If you have a disorder, you should be allowed.” They said that they are sometimes a distraction in some situations, even while off. Their opinion on headphones for focus reasons? “Yes, absolutely, 100% of the time.”