According to history.com, “People have been chewing gum for thousands of years, ever since the ancient Greeks began popping wads of mastic tree resin in their mouth to sweeten the breath.” This poses the question: If gum has been around for ages, why is it still deemed unprofessional?
At Carrollton, gum is not allowed even though this rule is not in the handbook. “The gum chewing policy is very simple: You shouldn’t be chewing it,” said assistant dean of student life Mrs. Aguiar. She said it is because of the mess gum creates, and the way it makes students look unprofessional.
“I’ve seen gum under the desks in Spanish class–a lot in Spanish,” said Emi Lomeli ‘31. In addition, gum wrappers cause litter around campus.
While chewing gum is discouraged, many junior high students do it anyway. “The teachers all tell me,” said Mrs. Aguiar. “I…see people chew gum around campus all the time.”
According to a poll of 75 Carrollton junior high students, 73.3% said they chew gum in school. But students don’t chew gum just to break the rules. 88% said gum helped them focus, and research backs this up. Gum is proven to improve focus by increasing the flow of oxygen to the brain. Because of this, one student who commented anonymously on the poll said being able to chew gum “would be helpful for some people on tests, or even just in class.”
And chewing gum doesn’t only improve focus, sugar-free gum can actually strengthen dental health.
Because of all these benefits, students think they should be given the chance to prove they can responsibly chew it. “I don’t really know why we shouldn’t be able to. As long as we don’t [leave gum under tables], it’s fine,” said one student, commenting on the poll.
“I feel that people would put less gum under tables or in places gum shouldn’t be if they didn’t feel like they had to hide it,” said Marion de Armas ‘30.
Destiny Royal ‘31 agrees. “We should get the opportunity to chew gum because of all the benefits,” she said.
