Should gum be allowed in school pros?

Should gum be allowed in school pros?

There are some issues that stir great debate, but there are other issues that most are in agreement on. The issue of allowing chewing gum in schools is one that seems to have both sides split. It might not seem like something that is incredibly important, but there are people on either side that are pushing for change. There are currently regulations regarding tolerance of gum in schools. Not all schools throughout the country have the same policies, but there are those that are looking to make it within regulations for anyone to chew gum in school. However, before you decide if you are in agreement with this line of thinking, it is important for you to be aware of what the pros and cons of chewing gum in school really are.

Pros of Chewing Gum

Assists the Brain
Those that are pushing for gum to be allowed within schools agree that the biggest pro involves the impact that gum chewing has on cognitive function. This is due to the fact that chewing gums help with many cognitive tasks and makes it easier to remember facts that you are learning and also expand on the amount that you are able to retain. Those that are for chewing gum in schools feel that having a positive impact on cognitive function is something that should be allowed and not restricted in any way.

Contentment
It should also be noted that many students that have less restrictions in school tend to learn more freely. Not being able to chew gum in the classroom is just another restrictions that can keep students from reaching their full potential. This means that allowing students to chew gum freely, could have the ability to make students feel less restricted in the school setting.

Cons of Chewing Gum

Distraction
Even though there are some pros attached to chewing gum in school, there are also some downsides that need to be addressed. The biggest con associated with chewing gum in school is the disturbance that it could cause. There is a lot of noise that can be caused by gum being taken out of the package, shared and then chewed. This noise can lead to distractions that make learning more difficult. By not allowing gum to be chewed in the classroom, you have the ability to get rid of these distractions from the classroom completely.

Have you signed up for The Educator's Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism!

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.

I'm curious to know your thoughts on gum chewing in schools. Please share below!

Editor's Note: If you enjoyed this article, please become a Patreon supporter by clicking here.

Should gum be allowed in school pros?

What are the benefits of chewing gum in school?

Chewing gum helps student concentrate, it helps with stress, and keeps students awake.

What are the pros and cons of gum?

Bacteria feed on sugar to produce acid, so chewing gum with sugar may result in more bacteria and acid in your mouth. Without proper care, this can lead to cavities and tooth decay. While chewing sugar-free gum is a great way to clean teeth and freshen breath, chewing gum that contains sugar can actually damage teeth.