Why do schools not allow gum

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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.

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

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Administrators and teachers have long argued that students should not chew gum in school. For decades, it has been a standard school rule that no gum is allowed. These adults have argued that students don’t dispose of gum properly and chewing can be a distraction. Recently, however, studies have shown that gum chewing can help improve attention and focus, and when allowed, students properly dispose of gum. In fact, 65% of professional athletes report chewing gum before or during a game in order to relieve stress. Maybe it is time we re-examine our no-gum-chewing policy.

According to the National Institute of Health, chewing gum can reduce anxiety and tiredness. Students who chew gum report feeling more relaxed and alert. And 65% of professional athletes report chewing gum before or during a game in order to relieve stress. Chewing gum reduces cortisol levels which improves an individual’s mood. Improved alertness and a more relaxed state improves memory and student’s performance. Through his research, Dr. Kenneth Allen, a professor at New York University, has proven that chewing gum releases insulin, which improves brain function and memory. It’s hard to argue against the improved attention and mood that chewing gum can create.

The biggest reason teachers and administrators argue against gum chewing is because they think it is rude, distracting, and messy. If gum were allowed in school, students wouldn’t feel the need to be sneaky and stick it on furniture. Students wouldn’t have to risk getting in trouble and instead would dispose of it properly. Many teachers have reported seeing a decrease in gum spreading on furniture when they started allowing students to have it in the classroom. Some teachers feel it is rude to chew gum while a student is presenting. A teacher can set rules and an expectation that students will spit out their gum when presenting or participating in a class discussion where they may have to speak often. In order to curb the loud gum chewing or blowing bubbles that might cause a distraction, teachers would just need to set rules regarding the proper way to chew gum. Most students will choose to follow the rules rather than risk losing the privilege of chewing gum.

Given the power that chewing gum has over memory and attention, it seems illogical that we don’t allow it in school. The arguments against gum chewing can all be addressed with a few classroom rules, which is how teachers set the limits and boundaries in a number of areas for students. The academic and mood benefits should outweigh the slight risk that a student might cause a distraction by blowing a bubble in class.

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