Gum Control

The no gum in school policy is one that has been notoriously ignored in schools
everywhere including Charlotte Catholic. Now, with the surface of new research
indicating that gum-chewing actually enhances academic ability, students are beginning
to question the widely accepted and tedious policy.
Recent research concluded that gum chewing contributes to a positive learning
environment increasing concentration in students a measurable amount. A study in the
United Kingdom discovered that people who chewed gum while memorizing a list of
words did 25 percent better than those who were not chewing. Additionally, In Japan, an
experiment with nine participants found that chewing gum boosted blood flow to the
brain by up to 40 percent. An increased blood flow means a higher rate of oxygen is
delivered to the brain, which ultimately correlates with enhanced alertness.
The argument largely used by pro-chewing students is that chewing relieves
tension and pent up energy the same as jittering your legs or clicking your pen would
without as much of a distraction as long as the student is respectful and does not
obnoxiously chew or blow bubbles. It is true that the consistent motion of chewing has
also been connected to a more peaceful classroom since students who chew release
energy that they otherwise must hold in, allowing them to focus on their schoolwork
more efficiently and with less distraction. This is especially true if students have attention
deficit disorder (ADD), which depending on what part of the U.S you are in, could be one
in five students.
With all these benefits, schools continue to ban gum, sticking to tradition despite the
aforementioned visible benefits.
Mrs. Jimenez said Students have been known to stick it under desks and other
places when they are done chewing. If students were allowed to chew gum they would
not be fearful of properly disposing of it. In Singapore the distribution and use of gum is
illegal because it contributes to the litter problem. If we banned soda cans would the
sacrifice be worth it with the reduction in litter? If only soda was as beneficial.
People who chew gum against the rules, which is most of us, have to hide the
evidence. If we could chew gum without getting in trouble, we would just throw it in the
trash instead of worrying that a teacher will send us to Mr. Belks office said one
student.
Gum chewing surprisingly entails more pros than cons and may be a source of
stress release for the student body if used discreetly.