Dear VCS,

We’re here to share our concern about the no-headphone rule placed this year. We understand how headphones can be distracting, however, they also have many benefits. Please listen to the reasons that we've provided and reconsider your decision.

We scholars would like to have our privilege back for headphones, and if not in the hallways, then at least at lunch. The noise from the lunchroom is astronomically loud and makes it difficult for us to hear our phones, leading us to raise the volume and make additional noise. Headphones can keep the lunchroom a little quieter and less chaotic.

We also believe that no headphones in the morning is unfair. It's very early and everyone wants to be left alone, not in a bad way, but rather in a way to comfort ourselves. Not everybody is a morning person, and music is something we find comforting. Studies have shown that music helps calm scholars and helps keep positive morale, maintaining a positive environment in the building.

Yes, there are cons to having headphones in a school building, however, that doesn't make them bad. It's scientifically proven that music helps students release dopamine, aid memory, increase motivation, and destress themselves. Headphones can bring comfort and peace to scholars and impact their grades positively.

We appreciate your time and hope you'll reconsider your decision on the headphone ban.

Sincerely, 

VHS Scholars 

Dr. Marshall created a no-headphone rule, and I for one do not like this rule because my headphones help me gain a sense of comfort especially because I use music to focus or concentrate on my work. I'm not the only one who thinks this way. Many students have stated that they use headphones to focus or concentrate, and some state that their grades have not been as good as the year before because they no longer can cancel out background noise when trying to work.

Studies have shown that music helps calm scholars and helps keep positive morale, maintaining a positive environment in the building. Yes, there are cons to having headphones in a school building, however, that doesn't make them bad. It's scientifically proven that music helps students release dopamine, aid memory, increase motivation, and destress themselves. Headphones can bring comfort and peace to scholars and impact their grades positively.

Dr. Marshall has made it so that we can use phones in our free time but is still persistent in saying no headphones in our free time. Headphones are considered a safety issue, which again I don't understand because they flash lights and have a loud alarm that can be heard over music if you're wearing headphones. 

 I stood up for the students who felt as though they didn't have a choice or couldn't try to stand up for something that they needed or wanted. I want to at least adjust this rule so that I can focus better on my studies. I've said all that to say that, I have created a petition on this matter, since I'm not the only one who finds security and comfort in music. I was wondering if you could lend me a hand and help me try and change or at least adjust this rule. I wanted to ask if you could give me the number of signatures I would need. 

Dr. Marshall has not been responding to my emails or even giving me the light of day. I might just be one individual amongst a lot but I want this headphone rule to at least be fair, I find it not fair that he passes phones but rejects headphones. First, he said they were an overall distraction, then it changed to a safety issue. Again, I am not looking for the rule to be abolished but I just want to see if it can be adjusted.