..if i had to sit quietly in a large room with a group of other students (and distractions) i would rather have an ipod in my ear. i would get tons of work done
What is to say, you can't leave music playing in the back round. Surgeons tend to listen to music while they work. I have no problem with that.
I don't think it a just use of my tax dollar to have you baby-sit 40 kids, with iPods. You can probably do a little better than that.
I don't want the kids "walking" for an hour either, they do need exercise. Do some good, and have them exercise.