Effects of Gum Chewing in Schools
Chewing gum in school is a widely debated topic among educators. Some schools ban chewing gum, while other schools leave it up to teachers' discretion. There are pros and cons to chewing gum in the classroom; it can be an obvious distraction, but some studies suggest it can help the performance of a student.
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Tests and Grades
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A study conducted at the Baylor College of Medicine in 2009 showed students that chewed gum scored higher on tests. The study followed 108 eight-grade math students for 14 weeks. The group that chewed gum while doing homework and taking tests did 3 percent better than the group that did not use gum.
Concentration
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A 2010 study from Cardiff University concluded that chewing gum facilitated greater alertness. The study participants that chewed gum had a better heart rate than the ones who did not. The study went on to say chewing gum improved the reaction times and attention spans of the participants.
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Less Snacks
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A study led by Paula Geiselman at Louisiana State University concluded in 2009 that sugar-free gum could be an effective weight management tool. The study had 115 people chew gum over parts of three hours on one day. The next day, all 115 were not allowed to chew at all. On both days the participants were offered sweet snacks. They took far less on the day they chewed game than the day they did not.
Distractions
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The major drawback to gum in class is the distraction factor that naturally comes when fellow students are chewing loudly or blowing bubbles with gum. Hygiene is also a factor since the gum frequently ends up stuck to the bottom of desks instead of the trash.
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References
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center: Scientific Report 2008 - 2009
- CNN: Chew on This - Gum may be good for body, mind
- Eating Well: Chewing Gum Conundrum - Is chewing gum good for your health?
- Nutritional Neuroscience: Effects of chewing gum on cognitive function, mood and physiology in stressed and non-stressed volunteers
- Photo Credit boy with gum image by Marzanna Syncerz from Fotolia.com
