Imagine you’re sitting in your class and reach into your backpack to get a piece of gum to chew, only to get yelled at by the teacher because gum is not allowed. It’s not fair, right? Why should you have to be punished just because other people don’t know how to throw away their gum? I believe gum should be allowed in school, as it has many benefits for students.
Chewing gum can be a great way to focus and fidget without necessarily disturbing the class. Studies have shown that chewing gum improves memory and focus during class and in general. I’ve noticed this about myself personally: when I chewed gum (when it was allowed), I didn’t doodle or fidget as much, and I was more focused on what the teacher was saying. This is true for many other students as well. Gum also helps keep your breath fresh, which…helps a lot in middle school. Just because some people don’t throw out their gum doesn’t mean it should be ruined for the rest of us, right?
There are many reasons why gum shouldn’t be allowed in school, for example that it makes a mess under the desks, however I believe that the pros outweigh the cons. Chewing gum benefits students and can improve their performance in school, which should be the most important thing. It also lowers stress levels and helps you relax. A study on colby.edu said that if you chew gum while studying and then chew the same flavor during the test, then that helps you remember what you studied better and improves results on the test. I know it makes a mess, but we could find ways to regulate it. Of course, I think it should still be banned in specific classes where gum could affect your performance, like chorus, band, medical, or culinary. But I believe core classes should be okay with gum chewing.
So the question is, should gum be allowed in school? My answer is yes. I do think it should be allowed, but it could still be slightly discouraged. The teachers who really don’t want students chewing gum can keep their rule, and teachers who don’t really mind as much should allow it. It would help with focus, relaxation, and good scores on tests.
