Gum in school pros and cons

They are wrong chewing gum is unhealthy for many reasons. In the article Chewing Gum Negative Effects and Disadvantages states “sugared gums can with heavy use cause tooth decay gum disease and cavities.” The article also said “sometimes the chewing of gum can lead to the increased levels of stress to your stomach and intestines. Stomach issues that can appear in those situations are irritation, aches and aggravated gastritis.” It could be stuck in your throat and could be fatal to you. All these effects lead to Kidney problems, Masseter problems and Irregular development of facial muscles. If gum was not allowed in school it would decrease the amount of chewing time and therefore, these problems would not be so common in

Table of Contents Show

Should gum be allowed in school pros?
What are the pros and cons of gum?
Why should gum not be allowed in school?
Why gum is good in school?

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I like to debate the issues with my colleagues, and one debate I had with one of my best of friends was over his choice to allow his 8th-grade students to chew gum. I, on the other hand, am fervently opposed to allowing it in my 7th-grade classroom. In fact, we teachers shouldn't be chewing gum in class either. It might seem trivial to many teachers, but there are reasons why we shouldn't permit our students to chew gum in class.

1. The classroom is not a barnyard. Chomp-clack-chomp-clack. When I taught at a high school where gum was permitted, that's all you heard in the sea of students. Looking out at them made me think of a host of cows chewing the cud on my brother-in-law's farm.

2. It's terrible for public speaking. There's nothing more awful than students who have just delivered the GREATEST PRESENTATION OF ALL MANKIND, but the whole time you can't think about anything beyond how they fit 6 pieces of gum in their mouth. It also muffles the voice from operating in a proper manner, and a piece of gum sitting on one's tongue or stuffed in their cheek just looks silly. Want to get in a debate and win against someone? Give your competitor a piece of chewing gum.

3. It will destroy your class and school. This is probably the number 1 reason to prevent gum chewing. Our middle school is nearly 60 years old, and it's in pretty decent condition. A large reason behind that is the fact that gum is and has been prohibited. Compared to the high school that I taught at, which is less than 10 years old - I still remember going to get a drink from a water fountain that was splattered with gum, someone even wrapping their gum around the faucet. Nasty!

4. Gum snapping and bubble blowing is distracting. There are silly things that students do unconsciously or even consciously when you turn your back to make one another laugh. Why give them another?

5. Gum sharing is inconsiderate. It becomes a popularity contest to share gum, and students act selfishly by giving to a select group of people while neglecting others. I operate by the policy if you have something in this class, there needs to be enough for everyone. Period.

6. People try to claim that it stimulates concentration. But I don't buy it. Do you really think a slap of Big Red or 2 pieces of Orbit is going to make you do that much better on the test? How about an interactive, stimulating classroom, a healthy breakfast, or 8 hours of sleep? That's what I'd rather focus on for my students.

7. Opening Pandora's box to a host of other classroom discussions. If students can chew gum (which I'm opposed to), why can't they carry around a water bottle (which I support)? Why can't they eat snacks or bring in soda pop?

8. It sets a negative precedent for years to come. We are animals of habit. If we can model good behaviors in our students in any age, they can become standards for years to come. If teachers restrict the ability to chew gum in class, it's possible that students will go to college and be on interviews and think to themselves - I shouldn't have gum in a professional setting. It's amazing how many young adults - or even the President of the United States - forget about that.

Gum is great! Not only are there an abundance of flavors to attend to everyone’s taste buds, but each stick has zero, or a few if any, calories! Chewing gum is a way for me not to overeat as well, because I will chew it before meals and it helps me figure out if I am hungry, or if my mouth was just dry. Like most students, I enjoy chewing gum in class, and feel that a gum ban in classrooms is detrimental to learning.

In 2009, a study was conducted on the effects on chewing gum and its correlation to academic performance. “Researchers at the Baylor College of Medicine took 108 eighth-grade math students from a Houston, Texas, school and divided them into two groups, following them for 14 weeks. One group chewed gum while doing homework and during test-taking situations. The other group did not chew gum at all” (CNN). The study concluded results in favor of gum chewing! “The gum-chewing students had a 3 percent increase in their standardized math test scores compared with those who did not chew gum. Also, the students who chewed gum had better final grades compared with the non-chompers” (CNN).

Isn’t it ironic how teachers continue to go against chewing gum in classrooms in the year 2015, 6 years after this conclusive study was done? As a student and avid learner, it frustrates me that educators would not promote chewing gum, as research has proven that it can help excel in the classroom. Considering that gum has been proven to reduce stress, one can also agree that chewing gum in the classroom can also reduce anxieties that go along with learning, and therefore can increase social performance in the classroom. Teachers in the past have explicitly told me that participation during class will increase my grade, however that does not reduce the anxiety I have to participate. Weighing the pros and cons, I sometimes choose to not participate because my anxiety is too high. Recently having started to chew gum more in the classroom, I have been able to actively pay more attention, and therefore not feel as nervous to participate, because I know what i am talking about.

My hope for the future is that all teachers require students to chew gum in classrooms. Because gum stimulates the brain, it will allow students to excel, and therefore feel more comfortable in their respective classes. Even though school janitors and faculty may be against this idea at first, it is important to remember that students act in ways of rebellion because it makes them excited to accomplish tasks they are forbidden to do. When allowed to chew gum freely, students will respect property more, as well as make great strides academically. Who knew something as cheap as $1 could make you smarter in an instant?

Should gum be allowed in school pros?

Conclusion. The positive effects of chewing gum in the classroom seem to outweigh the negative. More schools should allow their students to chew gum during specific activities at school. It seems that chewing gum can increase test performance, alertness, and overall brain power.

What are the pros and cons of gum?

On the one hand, it can be a great quick fix to freshen breath and clean teeth. On the other hand, it can lead to tooth decay and excess wear on your teeth. Today, we want to take a closer look at the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to chewing gum and your oral health.

Why should gum not be allowed in school?

Not only does it pose the typical choking hazard when the majority of staff is not trained in abdominal thrusts, but it also poses a risk when it gets left behind. Students will be the first to complain when they sit down at their desks and reach under only to find a large wad of old chewing gum.

Why gum is good in school?

It also increases the glucose level, making the student more alert. Rhythmic chewing also increases attention. Mental tasks are done 20% more effectively while chewing gum, which makes students "smarter." Chewing should be allowed, especially during extensive tests. Kids who chew gum during tests do 26% to 36% better.