Health class. Fourth period. A large group of mostly freshmen.
I passed out the assignment. They were doing it. There was a bit of a low rumble--a few groups were talking, but it was the talking/working volume of a group making progress on the assignment.
In other words, it was a perfectly acceptable class. A definite 4.
Days like this, I don't mind if they have their earphones in, listening to music while they work.
School policy on this, however... It's kind of a gray area.
Anyway, things are going well. I look up and see the principal heading our way.
It's nice when things are going well and administration happens to stop by. But those earphones...
"Mr. E is outside and heading this way..." I announced.
Several sets of earbuds disappeared just as the door opened. Silence settled over the room.
I have no idea why he came in. Perhaps he needed to see the teacher. He scanned the room for a couple moments, then left.
And there was a huge release of breath. As if they'd been holding it.
It was funny mostly because they hadn't been doing anything wrong in the first place. If I hadn't said anything, the visit would have likely gone the same way.
Ah well. It was a pretty good day all around.
Do you like music on in the background while you work? (Or do you prefer silence like me?) Did the principal of your school make you nervous, even when you weren't doing anything wrong?
Today's A to Z Challenge post brought to you by the letter...
I like the collective breath release.
ReplyDeleteI don't listen to music much anymore. I will listen to a book when I'm knitting, though. If I'm concentrating on something, I like the quiet.
It was neat that the kids realized to take the ear buds out after your announcement. They probably realized it was a "privilege" to be able to listen to the music and they didn't want to lose it.
ReplyDeleteI like it quiet except at night then I like some "noise" on to cover the noises of the night :)
I was a bit fearful of the principals I do admit :)
betty
Even when you were doing nothing wrong?
DeleteI worked in busy, noisy offices for years. Now I'm mainly working from home, I like a bit of background noise and usually have music playing or the radio on.
ReplyDeleteThat's Purrfect
If I'm at home, I need some kind of noise in the background. At work I just have silence.
ReplyDeleteInteresting...
DeleteThe principal always made me nervous too! I have to have some kind of background noise all the time!! Silence is just too silent!
ReplyDeleteReally? I am so in the minority here.
DeleteWe play music at the day job and the boss doesn't mind if an employee has some headphones, but if they are working through the lunch rush they can't have them.
ReplyDelete~Ninja Minion Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, Indie Author
Sounds appropriate.
DeleteWow! When I was in school music was definitely a no-no. Of course the smallest item we had to listen with was a walkman. Either way, it's awesome that you let them listen to music even though it's not necessarily allowed. It's probably a privilege that they don't get that often.
ReplyDeleteI personally like quiet most of the time, but sometimes, when I'm doing mindless work, a bit of background noise is nice. :)
Yeah, for us too, but times have changed. Cell phones have changed a lot of things.
DeleteGood students ... so pleased to hear, considering things could've gone so many different ways.
ReplyDeleteI don't listen to music while reading or writing, unless I need a little break. But I do find music inspirational.
So I'm not the only one!
Deletethere's a health class? Such delight! Hope it is practical.
ReplyDeleteWe always had to stand when the Head walked in the classroom. He was quite a scary fella. Great post. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThat's cool that they get to listen to music. It would probably help me concentrate. And as long as they're behaving in other ways, there's no harm.
ReplyDeleteI use earphones when I am writing and my husband tries to talk to me, until he sees the headphones. I love silence. When I saw the Principal walking up the ramp to my classroom, every student sat up a little taller. Worried? A little, esp. when he brought the Superintendent with him.
ReplyDeleteAt least when the superintendent is on campus, the sub classes get avoided.
DeleteI actually prefer music as it does help me focus and think at times. We weren't really allowed to listen to music that much in school except for a rare day when we would be able to bring in our portable cd players. The principal, as well as priests, always made me nervous when making visits. I was usually the one who would do my work and should have had nothing to worry about. ~Meg
ReplyDeleteWriter‘s Crossings
Considering how many students it does help, I wonder why it hasn't been allowed more.
DeleteI can always have music on, and if it's not, I'm likely humming something anyway.
ReplyDeleteI think you're in the majority.
DeleteLiz, I do enjoy listening to music in the background most of the time, but there are occasions when I prefer the silence. Principles always made me nervous, when I was in school, and I was pretty sure I'd find myself in trouble without even knowing it if He looked my way. So, I just tried to avoid the principle ever time he approached. :D
ReplyDelete~Curious as a Cathy
All Things Vintage: Laughs #AprilA2Z
The right music in the background improves anything:)
ReplyDeleteAh, that's where I disagree with you. Music in the background annoys me more than anything. But that's just me.
DeleteI need quiet!
ReplyDeleteYvonne V
Me too.
DeleteOh I listen to music all the time and yes, I always got nervous when the principal came a knockin even though I never did anything wrong(mostly).
ReplyDeleteI like listening to some light music while I work. I actually find pure silence to be a distraction.
ReplyDeleteThere are studies out there linking music to the positive development of a child's brain. So if someone gives you a hard time about allowing the kids to listen to music, you can point that out.
There was one teacher I covered for that had a whole thing in his lesson plan about that. It was how he justified allowing his classes to listen to music. Of course, the justification was unnecessary for me. He allows it, I'll allow it.
DeleteMusic, even classical, distracts me when I'm working on something, and I need total silence when I'm reading. Although, I did listen to my classical playlist while putting my A to Z posts together, that was an exception :)
ReplyDeleteI'm the same. I guess we share more than a name ;)
DeleteI picked Music for my 'M' word. I like how you chose Listening to Music. Great story to go along with it.
ReplyDeleteThanks. It was more of a fit-the-story-to-the-letter thing.
DeleteI am a teacher as well! I do like to listen to music sometimes in the background when I am doing work on the computer. It can be soothing :)
ReplyDeleteI like music in the background
ReplyDeleteThat seems to be the majority opinion.
DeleteGreat post, it's funny how a visit from the head master unnerves kids even when they are doing what they are supposed to be doing. I find background music helps me concentrate
ReplyDeleteDebbie
It's a great tool, to call in administration when the class isn't behaving. It helps, but only if used sparingly.
DeleteWhen I teach art, I totally understand why students would want their earbuds in. Music is very inspirational and it has the power to move. When I write, I prefer silence but when I paint, I love to have music of various types, playing.
ReplyDeleteThe art classes always have music going. Completely understandable.
DeleteI like background noise. I don't trust silences. It's up to something. Plotting. Scheming.
ReplyDeleteI’m exploring different types of dreams and their meanings.
M is for Movies
Stephen Tremp’s Breakthrough Blogs
LOL
DeleteThe principal at my school always made me nervous—regardless of whether I was the student or the teacher.
ReplyDeleteYou know I like music when I work, and I occasionally played music in my classroom when the kids were working. But everyone had to agree to the music, and they all have to agree upon which CD to listen to. We listened to the Beatles a lot.
I like music when I'm writing but I want it without words. Words are too distracting.
ReplyDelete#AtoZchallenge
Meet My Imaginary Friends
Back when I was in school, a teacher said something similar. Lyrics distracted her.
DeleteSounds like me when I see the cops pull up beside me. I'm never doing anything wrong but ...
ReplyDeleteI always check my speed, just in case...
DeleteMany of my co workers listen to music while working. I'm in the silence camp. Music is too distracting. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteNice to know I'm not the only one. We're in the minority, though.
DeleteLOL kinda like when the cops wind up behind you and it makes you nervous even though you're doing nothing wrong. Heh I don't listen to music while I work but I tend to have a video streaming in the background. My ears will ring if it's totally silent and it drives me crazy.
ReplyDelete