A couple of years ago, OH staff started playing music in the hallways. Many students have said they have not had a problem with it, but OH has yet to start it this year due to technical issues with building equipment.
Music can play an important role in a person’s life; it affects how people react to certain things. Music can make one sad, happy, or angry, but it can also affect one’s physical behavior, sometimes without their body even knowing.
OH Junior Ethan Monahan said, “Music means a lot, it is a form of entertainment, a form of self-expression, a way to get through the bad times and to celebrate the good times.”
Music can be known as one of humanity’s best inventions. Now the music being off isn’t something that the school decided to do. According to Assistant Principal Brian Cooney, “It is not actually [something we wanted to stop]; we’re having troubles with our speaker systems.”
Currently, instead of music in the hallways, the school has resorted to hallway monitors loudly telling students to go to their classes. Fixing the speakers could take awhile and, even worse, be really expensive.
Once the system is back up and running, students can suggest the music played. In a recent poll of OH students, rap and R&B are top genres students would want played.
According to Assistant Principal Brian Cooney, “We’ve had certain student groups want certain pockets of songs, so throughout the years we’ve played those.” Bringing back the music would benefit many students, especially those who mess around in the halls.
“[When the music plays during passing periods], it reminds me if you’re talking to your friends that you got three minutes to go to class,” said junior Kyle Taylor.
The music played in the hallways could have the same effect on students as shoppers in stores and supermarkets. According to many studies, like one from the National Institute of Health, many believe that the music played in stores can affect shoppers’ behavior. Music, depending on its popularity and speed, can determine how long a shopper stays in the store.
There could be many different reasons why the music has been removed: a new sound system, no one liked it, or it could have been too distracting.
“Students may hear the music playing and want to stay in the hallways longer to listen to it or talk to their friends about it longer,” said junior Nick Dillon. There are many reasons why students could be late, and students tend to stay in the hallways if something they recognize is playing.
Teachers also enjoy the music as well, so bringing it back would be enjoyed by everyone—not just students.
“It wouldn’t affect me too much, but I do enjoy it [[…]] especially when it’s upbeat and positive,” said math teacher Daniel Steffes.
From what has been seen, there’s been a slight difference between popular songs that most students know and enjoy and when the band songs and when there’s been no music at all.
Now music playing in the hallway doesn’t always help everyone, Some students ignore it or will not hear it because they have their headphones in, and many wait until the last minute.
“When the music was playing, there would be students on time but a couple of stragglers,” said French teacher Caitlyn Workman.
One solution would be to play the music a little bit louder. The solution could affect some students speaking to friends, but it could help notify those not paying attention in the hallways.
“I think students could make a fundraiser for maybe a new sound system or new speakers,” said OH junior Nicholas Dillon.
Students could come together to help out in the best way they can. By helping fix the speakers, it could not only help with the music but with announcements and many other important things.
Hello! I like fishing and I love learning the guitar, I’m a second-year reporter in12th grade. You can contact me by emailing 42Fifty@sd308.org and putting my name in the subject line. We welcome comments on our articles and feedback on our publication!
I love to read and write poetry, I'm a first year reporter in 11th grade. You can contact me by emailing 42Fifty@sd308.org and putting my name in the subject line. We welcome comments on our articles and feedback on our publication!
The fundraiser is a nice idea. Each year the senior class makes a donation to the school – maybe this could be considered for this year’s senior class.