Music in the classroom has always been a controversial topic. Many students think that music is an essential to help reduce stress and be able to focus on the classroom. Teachers however, thing that music is nothing but a distraction in the classroom.

With the headphone ban at La Joya Community, many teachers may play their own music in class, like instrumental covers or background music. These teachers acknowledge that many students work best with background music. Others completely ban music in their classroom, because they think that’s what’s best for a learning environment. Mrs. Rivera, a Ap English teacher at La Joya Community Highschool, agrees with the fact that the headphone ban, there is a growth in student grades. Mrs. Ravera states, “in the previous years, students would walk into the classroom with them on… they would be totally tuned out during lessons and group work…. Now with the headphone ban, students come in with the consistent expectation that it is not acceptable.”

Students however think that this ban has no affect. Students may believe that this was a useless ban, and that there are bigger things to worry about banning in the classroom. Abigail Navarro, Junior from La Joya Community High School, says, “I think that we should be allowed to use headphones when we have independent learning.” Showing that students may learn better while studying to themselves. Abigail continues by saying, “However, I agree that while the teacher is actively teaching, students shouldn’t have headphones in to reduce the number of distractions.”

With new generations coming to La Joya, more bans may be coming into the classroom. Talks about banned phones in class may be the next step. Mrs. Rivera says, “I wish cellphones were next. It is hard to get through a lesson when a handful of students are clearly not paying attention.” Though this may upset students, many teachers at La Joya wish to ban cellphones to help create a more engaged and healthy learning environment in the classroom.