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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!

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

Mr. Jake Miller is the 2016 National History Day Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year, a 2017 NEA Global...

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106 Comments

  1. I think you have the right to ban gum in your classroom if it detracts from the learning environment by irritating you. That said, when I have let students chew gum in class, I have seldom had problems because I tell them my expectations for “using” gum responsibly. Gum stays in the mouth, it makes no noise, it isn’t shared in class, and it is wrapped in a little paper before being thrown away. Everyone agrees that putting wads under the table is disgusting and everyone agrees that the privilege of gum chewing is worth following the rules. I have bigger fish to fry. If gum becomes a distraction, it must be spit out, or the pack given over.

    1. Really good stuff but at the same time bad evidence dont like it was not that good and you shouldn’t ban gum because it does not cause a distraction

      1. It destroys the school property. Maybe no comment is best if you are not in education. All teachers try to do is take care of the surroundings.

    2. . It can help with bad breath issues.
      Chewing gum helps to create extra saliva within the mouth. The extra saliva works to reduce the number of bacteria which are present in the mouth. That is why someone chewing gum often seems to have sweeter breath than someone who isn’t chewing gum. It isn’t just the flavor profile or the sugar in the gum that you’re smelling. With the reduced bacteria, chewing gum literally changes the composition of a person’s breath.

      2. It can help with heartburn issues.
      The extra saliva produced by chewing gum has another benefit as well. Once swallowed, the saliva works to balance out stomach acid levels. It also helps to push acid back into the stomach when it begins to creep out, thus preventing heartburn from happening. If someone chews gum for about 30 minutes, then up to 3 hours of heartburn relief can be experienced. Try chewing a sugar-free gum for the best results.

      3. It can help with weight loss.
      Boredom is one of the leading causes of obesity. When people get bored, they solve their mindlessness by chewing on something. The act of chewing works as a comfort mechanism. The act of chewing gum can replicate the chewing action that eating food requires, which may reduce the urge to snack or eat in unhealthy proportions for some people. Chewing gum is also known to help with cravings and reduce a person’s appetite.

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      4. It might help fight tooth decay.
      One type of sugarless gum is called Xylitol. Many dentists offer lollipops, chewing gum, and hard candies that are made with this sweetener. That is because Xylitol is known to slow the growth of a specific bacteria in the mouth that is a direct cause of cavities. When you chew gum which contains Xylitol, the bacteria are prevented from sticking to the enamel on your teeth. If the gum contains calcium lactate, then the mineral health of your teeth may receive a secondary boost as well.

      5. It is very affordable.
      The average price for a standard package of chewing gum is about $1. Some chewing gums are priced as low as $0.05 per piece. That makes it a very affordable way to take advantage of the many benefits this product provides. In the United States, the average person chews about 170 sticks of gum per year, which means less than $10 is spent, per person, on this potentially beneficial product. Even health-specific gums, such as dairy-free, gluten-free, or sugar-free, fit into this pricing category.

      6. It can increase personal productivity.
      Chewing gum is an activity that keeps your mind focused on the task which must be completed. The act of chewing reduces the distractions of non-productive activities, especially for students. It provides help with information retention, can improve short-term memory and recall, and may even reduce the amount of stress or anxiety which some students feel. Chewing sugar-free gum may even help to stimulate an increased level of brain activity.

      7. It is fun.
      Chewing gum offers some health benefits, none of which may be as important as the amount of fun it generates. People often feel good when they chew gum. Blowing bubbles with the gum can be entertaining. Considering it only costs a nickel, on average, to experience these benefits, chewing gum is one of the most valuable forms of personal entertainment we have available to us today.

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      List of the Cons of Chewing Gum
      1. It can lead to tooth decay.
      Many chewing gums contain high levels of sugar. Repetitively chewing sugared gum encourages bacterial growth in and around the teeth and gums, even though the extra saliva is working to reduce bacteria numbers. Over time, the extra sugar exposure to the teeth can lead to premature tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health issues. For those with weak or failing teeth, chewing gum may even cause direct tooth damage.

      2. It may cause some people to bite their tongue.
      Just about everyone bites their tongue at some point. It can be a very painful experience. Repetitive tongue biting, however, can lead to changes in the tissues of the tongue itself. Any bite will cause tissue damage. Repetitive damage can create pigmentation issues and keratinization. Many people who repetitively bite their tongue while chewing gum see white tissues appear, especially on the sides of their tongue.

      3. It may cause bloating.
      Chewing gum is also known to cause bloating issues in some individuals. This happens because as you are chewing the gum, you are swallowing more than your saliva. You are also swallowing air. That air hits your digestive tract and begins to interact with the bacteria found there. If enough air is swallowed, then stomach distension may occur, and it can even become painful. For those who chew a lot of gum during the day, try eating a high-fiber snack or sucking on a piece of candy to limit the amount of air that is swallowed.

      4. It may cause higher levels of sugar alcohol.
      Many chewing gums come with artificial sweeteners as a way to offset the direct sugar exposure and tooth decay risks that a sugared gum would offer. Chewing too many sugar-free foods is also associated with stomach discomfort. For the average person, consuming just 2-3 artificially-sweetened products, or chewing 2-3 servings of a sugar-free gum, can be enough to trigger bothersome symptoms.

      5. It can irritate certain health conditions.
      The most common irritation triggered by chewing gum is Temporo Mandibular Joint Syndrome, or TMJ. This condition creates painful movements and popping within the jaw when it is moved. The damage is often caused by repetitive movements of the jaw, such as grinding the teeth at night. For someone with a regular habit of chewing gum every day, enough damage could occur to cause TMJ. For those with this condition, chewing gum will further irritate the jaw.

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      6. It could loosen your dental work.
      Chewing gum becomes sticky after being chewed for some time. That stickiness can help to remove some bacteria from around the teeth and gum line. It can also make a negative impact on any dental work you may have had done. Chewing gum is known to loosen fillings, crowns, and bridges. Depending upon the health of the tooth and gums, it may even remove some crowns and fillings. If you’re unsure about the state of your oral health, it may be wise to discuss your desire to chew gum with your dentist to get their opinion on the matter.

      7. It creates high levels of litter.
      Up to 90% of chewing gum is not disposed of properly after it has been chewed. Outside of cigarette butts, chewing gum is the second-most common form of litter found in the world today. Even the collection and disposal of gum packaging is an expensive experience, with annual costs of more than $2 million in the United States. Modern chewing gum does not biodegrade either as it is made from synthetic plastics. In total, we generate 250,000 tons of waste each year because of our chewing gum habit.

      8. It can be disruptive to the social environment.
      One of the biggest concerns with chewing gum is that it can be a disruptive habit. Students or co-workers who pass around a package of gum are just as distracted in that activity compared to other distractions in their environment. The various noises of chewing gum which are created also cause noise pollution that can be distracting for some students.

      The pros and cons of chewing gum show us that it can be a healthy habit. Like any habit, it must be enjoyed in moderation to reduce the risk of experiencing bothersome signs and symptoms. Humans have been chewing gum for thousands of years. Although it is not a replacement for brushing your teeth, flossing, and other general care habits, chewing gum can help you create a happier and healthier mouth.

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      About the Author of this Article
      Natalie Regoli is a seasoned writer, who is also our editor-in-chief. Vittana’s goal is to publish high quality content on some of the biggest issues that our world faces. If you would like to contact Natalie, then go here to send her a message.
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    3. I was saying this the whole time I was reading. When they said something like “bubbles are distracting” I just thought “Well make it a rule to not blow bubbles” For me chewing gum is a great stress reliever and if I could chew gum in class I totally would. Also I don’t know if you heard of NWEA testing but we did that at the elementary school and they gave us a Peppermint proving my point that chewing stuff is a stress reliever.

    4. Yes, good choices of rules. Mine experience with gum does help keep my mind in the present, as I study. I am a tactile learner. I have have something moving to keep my mind on a boring class work.

      Slow comprehension is another issue.

      I am glad I am not in school no more.

  2. I SO agree!! Worst is when teachers chew gum or parents at conferences….thanks for taking a stand!

    1. I think in my opinion of when I was a student. You should allow gum under a few conditions. 1 If they share with one person they have to share with everyone. 2 if you find ANY trace of gum not in there mouths who ever did it must confess and if they don’t no more gum for everyone. 3 chew with the mouth closed.

      Add or take away any rules. This was just my opinion you may disagree.

  3. First, actually chewing gum does improve focus. It’s a proven fact, because it increases blood flow. Also it the chewing does calm some students. Just like how squeezing a stress ball would. This is also a proven fact. I think student should at least be able to chew gum during a test, because in a student itwas found that students who chew gum scored 5-10% higher. Second I’m pretty sure you can’t restrict water. Unless it’s like in the library. The school could probably get in serious trouble for that. You can’t no allow someone to drink water for 6 hours. And the water fountains are disgusting germ factors. When I was in school the teachers couldn’t say anything about a water bottle.

    1. at my school we are only alowed water bottles at lunch in the lunch room, and if we are caught with a water bottle outside the lunchroom we have to either throw it away or put it in our locker

  4. Okay, I agree with you on every point except # 6! During my first 2 years of high school we weren’t allowed to have gum and I struggle concentrating in class and on tests. My Junior year we got a new principal who allowed us to chew gum in class. My test grades skyrocketed! Chewing gum or anything while I’m taking a test really helps me concentrate. It calms your nerves and keeps your blood flowing. The physical motion helps you stay awake. I say we should teach kids how to throw away their gum properly so they could chew it in class and not make a mess. What do you think?

  5. First, Dave, you negated your entire post by showing you didnt read thr article very carefully. It states that the author DOES support water bottles. Second, kids have water fountains in schools to get drinks. Third, there are 7 hours in a school day. Lastly, if you let kids chew gum then the popping is more distracting. As for concentration? The same argument was made about classical music in the background years ago and coloring today. I’ll choose the latter before I CHOOSE GUM!

  6. I was a temporary teacher at a school where gum was not allowed but every other adult seemed to be chewing some, including the principal. I asked about it and was told that adults are responsible enough so they were allowed. It just didn’t feel right to me. I thought we should be modeling the ability to put off something we wanted. Any thoughts?

    1. Short response: Um, excuse me?

      Long response: This is just hypocrisy at its finest. The adults should either pack up the gum or let kids chew it in class. I highly doubt that both the teachers let the kids try them and every single student proved they could not be responsible with gum. These teachers are hypocrites. This is unfair, and you should let your principal know.

  7. First of all I respect teachers, but I think we should be able to have gum. When we took PARRC in 5th grade we could not have gum and I got like 3/5 on ELA amd Math. A year later we had gum and I got a 4/5 in ELA and a 5/5 in Math. I think gum helps a lot I wish we could still have it. I am still a student I am doing a ELA project about if gum should be allowed in school. I say yes but we all have our own opinion. From the project I have learned it helps concentration. I am going to chew gum when I study now. Well I will find out if I get higher grades because of it soon. Thanks for your time and the info definitely going to help my project.

    1. We should have gum in school cuz it’s a stress reliever I snuck gum on all of my tests cuz it helped me and now I’m a grade a student my teachers have a strict policy about gum if they catch u to hey will send u to the principles office

      1. You are easily not a “grade A student” if you cannot spell the word “principal” properly.
        It may have been a small spelling mistake, but I feel like you’re either a fifth or sixth-grader- maybe even in seventh grade.
        Just putting that out there.
        Also, that makes sense. If in your school, there is lots of gum wrapped around fountains (like this teacher said in the article), and lots of litter and trash around the whole school, it makes sense why they would restrict it.

  8. If gum chewing is the biggest problem in your class then you have it made. It’s trivial in the grand scheme of teaching. I allow it in my class and couldn’t care less.

    1. Wasnt so much about Obama as it was about how it can be interpreted as being disrespectful when interacting with different people from other cultures.

  9. Actually though I do not want to see a classroom of students popping bubbles or making noises chewing there is a proven scientific fact that gum chewing does indeed improve concentration and test scores including math test scores period before they go up to do their public speaking perhaps have them put it in a paper towel and make them do it very quietly so it does not bother you and then you will have a classroom of brilliant students.

  10. You guys are seriously fighting about gum?! WOW! Gum is just a sugarless snack for kids. This is just MY opinion, but I think we should let kids chew gum in school! I mean if kids want gum, give them gum! The only reasons kids put the gum under there desks is because they are scared to get in trouble by the teacher for chewing gum, so they don’t have the nerves to throw it away!

  11. “People try to claim that it stimulates concentration. But I don’t buy it.”

    Okay, so according to the article you linked to, there’s a growing body of evidence (even beyond the study funded by Wrigley) that it does. Is your counterargument really just “I don’t buy it”? No contrary evidence or a meta-analysis of the existing studies which points out flaws or shortcomings in their methodologies or conclusions? Just the mere fact that the studies apparently contradict your beliefs means they can be summarily dismissed?

    What would you say to a student who “didn’t buy” the fact that the Civil War was largely about slavery, even after you showed him the Articles of Secession published by various Confederate states (every one of which explicitly identified slavery as a significant — or, in some cases, the only — reason for their secession)?

  12. Hey John Small Berries, there is also a huge population of people who STILL believe that the world is flat. Seems like the human race is becoming more and more pointless by the minute.

  13. Master Of Life,

    Yes, it’s true that there are some people who persist in believing some very silly things despite demonstrable evidence to the contrary. But that’s no reason to excuse an educator for taking a position which, to all appearances, elevates unfounded beliefs and personal prejudices above evidence.

  14. i once had a veteran teacher tell me”go ballistic over gum chewing and the thought of bringing a weapon will never even cross their mind”

  15. I love this website its so true because the kids might get distracted all of the bubble popping and the playing with it the smacking and all them other stuff im so happy they made a website like this it is sooo cool im going to show this to my students yeaaaaa once i get to see themm oooommmmggggg

  16. I think gum chewing does help concentration on my part anyway. I haven’t researched it myself, but I notice a difference when I’m listening to a speaker. However, the sound of someone smacking gum will make me go postal. I couldn’t imagine trying to test with that noise going on. I think I would allow students to chew during testing and retrieve it from anyone who can’t keep their mouth closed. Of course, during state testing you couldn’t do that, so I don’t know what I would think if I taught third grade or above. I wonder if clenching and unclenching your jaw does the same thing?

  17. Students need to learn when/if gum is appropriate. At the university level I observe future teachers chewing gum while teaching, and I find it a disruption in their speech and diction. Plus, it is distracting. If you find gum chewing distracting in class, it’s likely some students do, too.

  18. I teach a sixth grade class and started the year by laying out my expectations. When asked the inevitable, “Can we chew gum?” I tell them, “Go right ahead. As long as you follow these rules…” In 8 years, my classroom has not been a barnyard, has not been destroyed, has not hosted a popularity contest for gum, and has not created a distraction. Teachers with classroom management are able to permit this inconsequential act because their students know and understand what will happen if they do not abide by the gum laws. Oh, and if a student is giving a presentation, it’s pretty easy to say, “Hey, spit your gum out before you start.”

    I think most teachers have more to worry about than gum…

  19. People who are against gum in class are just ignorant!! There´s nothing wrong w/ it!!! I dislike people like the faggot who wrote this article

  20. This article seems like it might be a joke?!? All of the reasons above simply make it sound like the teacher has no classroom management skills. I taught 2nd and 5th grade and allowed gum chewing in both grades and rarely had a problem. It does help with calming and concentration We set expectations (and discuss good manners), such as chewing with your mouth closed, no bubble making, throw it in trash when leave the room for lunch/specials, bring in your own pack/no sharing, and, if it bothers you, have them throw out their gum before presenting to the class! There is nothing wrong with chewing gum, drinking water, having a snack if you’re hungry, and dare I say, wearing a hat…I do not know of any job that controls their employees like some teachers!

  21. I am a mother of a student that cannot tolerate people chewing with their mouth open. She has misophonia. She hid it from us for yrs, our son has severe autism. Chews loudly with mouth open. At home she can be somewhere else when our son is eating. A classroom is to learn, it should be the best learning environment. That does not include chewing gum. Some can chew quietly, but many teenagers do not, they also do not respect others learning environment. You give an inch, they take more. Misophonia is increasing. Other students may have problems with noise. Students should be educated towards the adult world. Most jobs will not allow.

  22. I have students interpret the Gum Clause of the Class Constitution. They act as the Supreme Court to interpret the language of the law.It says that gum cannot be seen or heard. Any violation of the Gum Clause will result in collective consequences. A chance to teach Civics!

  23. As a student, it is my belief that chewing gum does help to improve your concentration. It is similar to squeezing a stress ball because it gives you something to fidget with, and therefore helps to improve your concentration. In students who have difficulty concentrating, chewing gum would allow the quality of their work and the notes that they are taking to be improved. I find that chewing gum in my classes allows me to focus more than if I am unable to.

    1. same here! gum helps my concentrate on my work, especially since i’m a fidgety person.

  24. I disagree. This is all based about pass years when he was still in school. School isn’t like that now. It does help people focus. And some of these reasons are opinions, not facts

  25. Gum helps with stress and relaxation. The only reason gum is under tables and chairs is because they are sneaking it. If we did have gum i think kids would have been more responsible and throw a ways their gum the right way.

  26. Sir, I entirely agree. gum is annoying if you’re taking PSSAs or something. It is a distraction of the learning environment.

  27. There sugar free gum that is good for your teeth and also helps whiten your teeth. I think that gum should be allowed in school.

  28. Teachers like you are bad for society! The number one rule in life should be allowed everyone to have the maximum amount of freedom unless what thy are doing is wrong (chewing vary loud with mouth open or sticking gum were it dose not belong). When you take away people’s right to do what they wont arbitrarily thy will not respect you. Kid are the fist to see though your bullshit and thy will call it as thy see it.

  29. chewing gum is tasty and studies have shown that when the mouth is focused on a task your brain will focus better. have you ever noticed how you focus better when you’re eating or chewing on an eraser or pencil

  30. I am presenting a persuasive speech to my class about chewing gum and how it should not be allowed in class. I had trouble finding any reason to even try and persuade my classmates that the gum they love chewing in class should not be aloud in the classroom at all. But, this helped me a lot with some reasons we shouldn’t have gum In class.

  31. Everyone is right about the statements. Yes it can be very distracting, why not tell them to chew with their mouths closed, that simple. My teacher chews gum but apparently were not aloud to. It does help on education. It was all proven. I don’t agree with your evidence.

  32. I’m a student with misophonia. This means that certain sounds “trigger” me and make my heart rate spike rapidly and give me panic attacks, rendering it impossible to focus in class. Gum and chewing sounds are my worst trigger and one of the most common ones for people with misophonia. When I hear people smacking on their gum, it will make me a sobbing and shaking mess within seconds. Eating and chewing gum should stay out of the classroom and students should be focused on learning instead of trying to make their gum the loudest in the class. For the sake of students like me, we need that safety to focus in class without being triggered and we need gum to be banned in schools.

  33. I’m a student with misophonia. This means that certain sounds “trigger” me and make my heart rate spike rapidly and give me panic attacks, rendering it impossible to focus in class. Gum and chewing sounds are my worst trigger and one of the most common ones for people with misophonia. When I hear people smacking on their gum, it will make me a sobbing and shaking mess within seconds. Eating and chewing gum should stay out of the classroom and students should be focused on learning instead of trying to make their gum the loudest in the class. For the sake of students like me, we need that safety to focus in class without being triggered and we need gum to be banned in schools.

  34. One of the rules in my classroom’s code of conduct is this:

    If you remember to have gum, candy, or soda in class, then you’d better remember to do your homework, study for the test, and bring your books. If you have time to chew gum and no time to do your work, you can expect an F.

  35. I am the only person who can chew quietly. Everyone else is noisy, even the ones who think they are quiet. Most just don’t even care how disgusting they look or how loud they are. I am with the OP completely. I hate gum and it doesn’t belong in my classroom because it distracts me, makes me physically ill to see, and I was always bothered by others chewing it in school. Especially the teacher, who should know better. There are other methods to help focus. My son uses a chew toy for these occasions. Just because gum has ONE educational benefit, maybe, it does not outweigh the plethora of reasons not to. If you think chewing gum is “ok” in this environment or in public, then you are misinformed about appropriate behavior.

    1. i feel like the only reason why adults are making such a big deal out of this is because they couldn’t bring themselves to try and change the no chewing gum in class rule that was surely one of the biggest rules at their schools. they are only trying to keep following the “tradition” of no chewing gum in class. what about when you did something wrong you got your hands smacked by a ruler? should schools allow that again because that’s what happened to teachers when they went to school? my friend has ADHD and he 1st grade teacher would snap her fingers in her face. she now can’t have anyone snap within 25 feet of her, otherwise she starts freaking out and has a hard time breathing. so what does our math teacher do? pop a piece of gum in her mouth. she instantly feels better, and that has become our go-to solution for anything. the special eds kids are crying? offer them a piece of gum. someone twists their ankle in p.e.? offer them some gum. it has really helped people at our school, and the counselors carry around gum packets. it is amazing how much better someone can feel after a piece of gum.

  36. My son is 7 and has a tic disorder. His neuropsychologist based out of Harrisburg recommended that he chew gum in school to help with his vocal tics, because he can’t physically use those muscles in his mouth to tic if he is chewing and actually writes notes to schools to excuse them for gum chewing. I know this is a different situation, but there are some benefits out there.

  37. THis is stupid, who cares if we can’t have gum, students are going to hide it anyways and theirs nothing you can do about it, and where is the evidence, your not a scientists, scientists, create these things, these facts but you no respect PERIODD

  38. Throughout my high school and middle school years we were allowed to chew gum in school and it had no effect whatsoever on my ability to learn or anybody else’s ability to learn or any teachers ability to effectively impart information. Obsessing about controlling whether or not a student has gum in their mouth is a total waste of time. I once had a high school teacher that allowed gum chewing but would completely flip out if somebody accidentally made a cracking sound while they were chewing the gum. Her endless tirades about someone cracking gum was more of a distraction than the gum cracking itself– it was ridiculous. It’s none of an educator’s business whether or not a kid has some gum in their mouth– as long as they don’t stick it on anything, or throw it on the floor, just stop obsessing about it it doesn’t freaking matter.

  39. I think gum should be allowed in schools. Gum is scientifically proven to help with concentration, anxiety, depression etc. There are many mental health benefits from chewing gum! If it becomes a distraction in class, then as teachers, you should implement strict rules and if it continues to become a distraction then you can ban it. I just really don’t understand why it is such a big deal. #ALLOWGUM2020

  40. The evidence was not all the way there. It has been scientificllay proven that chewing gum helps test scores and consatration. It could also help keeps to stay awake in class because it is fun and very tasty. Banning gum fron schools would only make them want to do it more. There have been mulitply times where students have been caught selling gum for money. Banning gum would be like taking away their freedom which would not make our jobs easier but make it harder. It would do because the kids would be alot less focused and make them stress out. If they had gum that would be diffrent because gum also helps relive stress and helps control ADD and ADHD. If your not a highschool or middle school teacher I wouldn´t excpect for you to understand. If you are a 6-12 teacher and you believe this actical shame on you for not thinking about whats best for the kids and school but think about what is best for you and the staff that is not your job that is the job of the princepal and the PTA board. If you have a problem with anything I typed please feel free to give me an email on my work email @asnixon0591@jefcoed.com or my personal email @ aniyanixon177@gmail.com
    Thank you for your time.

  41. Lol I’m so confused! You say you don’t believe that it helps peoples senses?! You’re basically saying that petting you’re ESA when you have an anxiety attack doesn’t calm you! They are basically the same thing: a repeated motion! Also chewing flavored gum can help in studying for tests. If you chew the same flavor of gum while you work then when a test comes up you associate what you studied with the flavors of gum and you get a better grade on it.

  42. I fully agree with number 3 that gum is harmful to the cleanliness in schools. I surveyed 17 teachers at my high school about sanitation due to gum and/or food. Here are my results:
    https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iQCIKymrI_Wipae-Y1kqTp4OTxpaRCO4/view?usp=sharing
    58.9% of teachers have noticed sanitation issues in their classrooms after allowing students to eat or chew gum in their classrooms. It also takes up the time of the custodians to remove gum from school property. With Covid, who wants to clean up gum that has been in someone else’s mouth??

  43. I fully agree with number 3 that gum is harmful to the cleanliness in schools. I surveyed 17 teachers at my high school about sanitation due to gum and/or food. Here are my results:
    https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iQCIKymrI_Wipae-Y1kqTp4OTxpaRCO4/view?usp=sharing
    58.9% of teachers have noticed sanitation issues in their classrooms after allowing students to eat or chew gum in their classrooms. It also takes up the time of the custodians to remove gum from school property. With Covid, who wants to clean up gum that has been in someone else’s mouth??

  44. as much as i love gum it should be banned it’s very distracting and even annoying sometimes and in school the students may get distracted and stick it under the desk when it has no flavor left. it also may become a problem when they grow up because when they grow up they can pay for everything they want or need and they would want gum and instead of food more than gum it would be gum more than food and they would bring gum everywhere that would be a problem what if the kids where in a meeting and brought gum to that meeting and start chewing with there mouths open and they could get kicked out f the meeting for being annoying or maybe even having to much gum in your mouth and accidentally swallowing could lead to you choking and possibly death and we don’t want that for us or our students. maybe even our students when they grow up and are going to get a job but when the boss sees the man/woman chewing gum with mouth open and they get fired for disturbing everyone including the BOSS and they don’t want that.

  45. I have to disagree. I understand your side, but a lot of these don’t necessarily apply. With proper rules, you can get rid of these altogether. A lot of students stick gum under desks and in places it shouldn’t be because they are afraid to get in trouble by openly throwing it out. If they are allowed to chew gum, they would dispose of it properly because there’s no reason to be secretive about it. If there is still gum being stuck in places it should not be, the people doing it can either confess and keep the privilege, or they can keep it secret and get the privilege taken away for everyone. There could be rules that nobody is allowed to chew gum during presentations, which would take care of that because students would rather follow those rules than getting their privilege taken away completely. The students can either chew gum quietly or there’s no gum. It has also been scientifically proven that chewing gum in class relieves stress, anxiety, and even helps concentration and memory. Most schools actually allow water and other drinks, but food is understandable considering that there are many food allergies. I personally think the pros outweigh the cons, and there are so many ways to prevent the cons. I don’t believe it’s reasonable to take away being able to chew gum in class just for some things that could be prevented, but I understand your opinion.

  46. I don’t allow it in my classroom. I remember growing up and being in class around kids allowed to chew gum. They were obnoxious with it. Loud chewing, popping, blowing bubbles. I couldn’t concentrate at all and instead found myself focusing on how much I wanted to punch people in the face. There were days I even sluffed certain classes because of kids that were allowed to chew gum. Now I teach 7th graders and it is definitely not allowed in my room. It still takes all of my focus when I teach and I’ve had students thank me for not allowing it in my room because in other classes they can’t concentrate with the sound. I totally relate.

  47. As a student with adhd and a LOT of trouble focusing. chewing gum does in fact help concentration. Some students use handheld fidget toys but that stops your hands from being able to do other things. I think it’s also a very accessible fidget and way to keep moving without really moving your body.

  48. our school doesn’t care about gum. they sell it in the Café. I think we should be allowed gum since half of those problems don’t happen if people are civil.

  49. No it shouldn’t be a problem because I was just chewing gum in school and I didn’t get in trouble and my teacher selling gum to her students ❤️ but how it disturbs of kids chewing gums if like you chewing food and it not like you chewing loud‍♀️

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