FISD has yet again banned the music app Spotify.

Throughout this entire district, Spotify was a frequently used application and website when students had independent work time or free time. Spotify is considered the best music listening application because it is free with a wide range of genres in songs. Spotify even had podcasts students could listen to for fun. Studies show that music has many benefits for students. For example, students could concentrate and focus better on multiple assignments while listening to music. The average student that listened to music got a better grade on certain assignments than a student who was not listening to music while doing assignments. Music also increases productivity for multiple students in FISD.

However, as I mentioned earlier, Spotify is blocked. Now, all of those benefits for students are suddenly gone. It is difficult for many students to find another alternative for Spotify. Students try different websites like Youtube, but none of the alternatives can do what Spotify does for students. Although Spotify might have its cons, the pros of Spotify clearly outweigh the cons. The district might be trying to help students by blocking Spotify, but they are actually negatively affecting students mentally and academically. Without any music to listen to while doing independent work, students lose focus. Also, students can not enjoy doing their assignments anymore without any proper music to listen to.

It is true students might be listening to “inappropriate” or explicit music while doing their work, but it does not bother anyone else and only benefits the music listener. FISD also has many reasons to not trust in students with them playing games like Cookie Clicker during class or chatting with friends when they are not supposed to. FISD has had a history of blocking certain applications, extensions, or websites they deemed inappropriate. For example, blocking most of the unblocked google sites, Google Chat, and 99 percent of the extensions in the Chrome Web Store. Almost no one complained about these being blocked because all of them had one thing in common: being distracting to the student. But Spotify actually does the exact opposite of what most of the blocked websites do: help the student focus.

Blocking might even seem harsh for students, but I am not saying to unblock Spotify and do nothing else. There can still be less severe precautions that can be taken. For example, the student can get permission from a teacher or another adult for permission to listen to Spotify. In addition, the teachers should have the choice if students can listen to music. This should not be the district administrator’s choice because every teacher is different. Teachers can even require students to need a trust card to listen to music.

And even if you do not listen to music or know what Spotify is, just take a moment to help us unblock Spotify in FISD. Just remember all of the students in FISD, not just your grade or your school, that are suffering through these tough times. Ever since 2020, we have been through coronavirus and other obstacles, including this new Spotify issue. One of the obstacles can be removed by signing this petition. You can also help by sharing this with students of all grade levels and schools across FISD. Try getting this petition to some of your teachers and other adults as well.

So please, if you listen to music, if you want to make a change for the better, if you want the students of FISD to be happier, take a moment to help us in our cause. If you have anything you want to say in the comments, feel free to do so.