Pano Perspective: Music streaming

illustration by | DANIELLE ZHANG

PERSPECTIVEPANO

Music streaming services should be unblocked on school-issued computers

30 out of 30 Panorama staff members agree

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, students are logged on to their computers more than ever before. With classes taking place virtually, being connected at almost all times is essential to success. After students leave the virtual classroom, there is no definite divide between being in class versus out of class. As students have continued to spend hours sitting on Zoom and then begin to do homework, music is a way to separate a student from living on their computer. While doing homework, music can be a motivation to some and can make it easier to work. Thus, students should be able to access music streaming services through school-issued laptops.

Students have limited access to Apple Music via their laptops should they choose to connect their personal account information and already have a subscription to the service. However, Spotify, Pandora, Soundcloud, Amazon

Music, Youtube Music and iHeartRadio remain blocked through Securly.

While restricting access to streaming services like Netflix and Hulu in the school setting is understandable due to the distractions those services could potentially bring, listening to music is beneficial for students when studying and doing homework. Listening to music while studying for long periods of time has proven helpful to the retention of information and stamina. According to the Stanford School of Medicine, music causes the brain to pay more attention to the task at hand. Additionally, music is a mood-booster, and positive moods are directly linked to the formation of memories. The University of Nevada found that music with slower tempos can also help soothe stress, which is more important than ever given the stress students are under due to the COVID-19 pandemic and virtual learning.

As screentime has increased on computers, music makes it possible to differentiate time in class and time doing out-of-school work and can help students unwind after long days sitting in Zoom classes.

Additionally, school-issued laptops are the only computers some Ladue students have access to while at home. These students deserve the same privileges as their peers when it comes to technology, and unblocking music streaming sites would grant access to resources that were previously unattainable.

While there may be concerns regarding students using these services at inappropriate times or to tune teachers out, high school students are mature enough to decide how they want to spend their time. Unblocking music streaming services would prove beneficial to students. p

Editorial Note: Each editorial, Panorama selects an issue that the staff thinks is important to address and expresses a view that belongs to the majority of the staff. Panorama welcomes the opinions of its readers, and encourages letters to the editors. Please bring signed letters to room 1311 or email Panorama at publications01@ladueschools.net. Panorama reserves the right to revise submissions for length as long as original intent remains unaltered.

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