I love listening to music while I work. For me it helps me focus and relax. It also inspires me while I work. I don't know any one who does not enjoy listening to music. It helps me when I want to be productive also, because the music with quicker beats helps me want to work. I think that  iPods should be allowed in classrooms while students are doing independent work.    
            Although most teachers think that iPods, and music would be distracting it helps most students focus. The music is less distracting than the class clown or the kid that keeps playing around next to you. If you can not hear the people around you there will be less distraction in the room. The music has a volume button that you can control, where a classroom does not. The music can be quiet when you want it to. With the quiet music the student can be focused enough to work. This creates the ideal environment to work for every student. For me personally I can just turn on some quiet music and have some nice back ground music that helps me focus. Ipods help students focus and get their work done efficiently.  
     Although most music players these days have games on them that students can play I think that if you give them a privilege they won't mind following the rules that you set. Another advantage to letting students use their iPods is these days most kids enjoy music and it may help them not get so tense about their work. When students are relaxed their work seems to be so much better than if they were all tense and nervous. It would relieve the stress and help them work more efficiently. Their brains may also come up with more good ideas while they are relaxed. Music players relieve stress and help them relax while they are working at school.   
            I realize that not all students have, or can afford, an iPod.  These students now have a nice quiet environment to work in, because all the students around them are listening to music and are engrossed in their work. This also helps the teacher grade papers in the corner, or some other type of work in a quiet classroom. That is how iPods also benefit the teacher and students who cannot afford iPods.       
         While the students are working the lyrics to the music might give them a great idea. The music can help them get the right ideas that their teacher needed them to get. The words might inspire them to try to look at something in a new way. I have gotten many ideas myself from words spoken to me through the words of  songs. The music might even give them a cool topic to write about. Music will inspire students in their work.      
          Therefore, music players should be allowed in classrooms. While working the music will help the students stay focused. It will also help them relax, so they can work more efficiently. The music can also inspire them will cool ideas that they can use to improve their work. This will also create a nice quiet environment for the rest of the class including teachers and students who cannot afford iPods. I think that Mr. Robidou should talk to the school board to change the policy and allow students to have music players in class.

I got this picture from:      http://www.legacyofhope.com/jan_2006.htm