The recent release of fidget spinners has remarkably impacted stores and schools nationwide. Invented by chemical engineer Catherine A. Hettinger, the fidget spinner comes in many different colors, shapes and sizes. After seeing young boys throwing rocks at police officers in Israel, Hettinger wanted to create a relaxing toy that help children release bottled-up energy. She applied for a patent on May 28, 1993 for a round device composed of soft plastic and later pitched her spinner idea to toy manufacturers. Fast forward twenty years and this unique gadget has taken the world by storm. However, its intended use as a soothing toy for children has been almost entirely forgotten, with fidget spinners being the coolest fad for children across the nation.

Every school offers courses that specialize in helping kids focus and develop their sense of discipline against distractions. The fidget spinner further boosts this educational effort by providing students with an outlet for their antsy hands. At Calabasas High School, fidget spinners were introduced by IEP classes which dedicate their time and effort solely to students with learning disabilities. These alluring gimmicks help kids with autism and ADHD, both of which are disorders that limit the ability to concentrate. Unfortunately, fidget spinners have been revamped into a casual trinket for kids rather than an essential tool to help children improve their education.

Even more, fidget spinners are the source of many disturbances in the school environment. The constant playing and spinning of this apparatus is very distracting for other students, as they are easily side-tracked during class. This problem originates with students who do not suffer from disabilities like ADHD and autism, for they cannot truly understand the immense value of fidget spinners for disabled students.

“Fidget spinners have really helped me focus in class, something I had trouble with in the past,” said junior Austyn Reale. “Aside from myself, I know a lot of people who have benefitted from fidget spinners as well.”

Many students use fidget spinners to help concentrate both in and out of school. When kids are stressed about schoolwork, whether it is during a lecture or at home while working on a project, playing with fidget spinners helps to relieve this stress and provide a sense of relaxation. Overall, fidget spinners provide disabled students with a beneficial outlet to channel their energy, while acting as harmlessly fun gadgets for everyone.