Page 3 - The Edge Issue 7
P. 3

Why Teachers Should Allow
Gum in Class
Editorial by Maisa Doan
Strict rules against chewing gum in in in in class are counterintuitive and and old-fashioned and and teachers should recognize that gum doesn’t just make students’ breath smell better- it fit has actual benefits for students students and teachers Students often have a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a hard time staying awake in in in class but chewing gum encourages them to stay stay up and focused A team of
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psychologists at at at St Lawrence University found that the the the movement of
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chewing gum assists stimulation of
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the the the facial muscles which increases blood flow to the the the head Since chewing is a a a a a a a a a conscious movement unlike breathing or or blinking it helps the mind to remain more aware When students have improved focus teachers will also be happier Without having to to hear the same question asked 20 times teachers can can spend more time time getting students to to learn It is is scientifically proven that gum can can improve memory which is is an
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important benefit for students who have to remember their responsibilities and lessons A study published in in in the the the International Journal for Medical Sciences found that brain activity in in in in the the hippocampus an
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area important for memory increases increases while people chew Chewing increases increases heart rate and blood blood blood flow as as as as well as as as as blood blood blood blood pressure helping to to to supply more more more blood blood blood blood to to to the the brain brain When the the brain brain receives more more more blood blood blood it has access to to to to more more more oxygen which helps students to to concentrate and improves memory The smell of
gum gum can also bring back memories- if a a a a a a a a a a student chews gum gum while studying and the the the again during a a a a a a a a a a test they’re better able to remember what they they reviewed Not only is gum beneficial for students students students in class but it also supports students’ mental health Many students students students experience anxiety anxiety but chewing gum is proven to help reduce anxiety anxiety by in in in a a a a a a a a a a a stressful situation such as a a a a a a a a a a a test or or presentation According to a a a a a a a a a a a a a study presented at at at at the 10th International Congress of
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Behavioral Medicine levels of
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salivary cortisol a a a a a a a a physiological stress marker are 16% lower in in gum chewersascomparedtonon-chewers Thismeanspeople who who chewed gum gum in this experiment dealt with the the stressful situation better than the the people who who did not chew chew gum gum Gum is capable of
boosting mental health health health but it can also boost boost students’ overall health health health Oral and dental health health health an
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an
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often overlooked area of
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concern is very important Practicing good oral and and dental health health can prevent bad breath tooth decay and and gum disease An unhealthy mouth may lead to to an
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increased risk of
serious health health problems such as as heart attack stroke and diabetes While students can can sometimes overlook their their oral health chewing sugar-free gum can can reduce their their risk of
tooth decay Gum makes your your mouth mouth produce more saliva which kills and washes away acids that form in in in your your mouth mouth when breaking down food The minerals produced by the the additional saliva help reinforce your tooth enamel which decreases the the danger of
cavities Some teachers such as as as Ms Deborah Woodside have good reason for prohibiting gum in in their class “We are afraid that students will aspirate and choke on on the gum ” said Woodside Most teachers however enforce rules against gum gum because because it is annoying to see or or because because they’re concerned students will stick their chewed gum on on classroom surfaces While these fears may be be well-founded they pale in comparison to the the the benefits students can receive from this simple habit Teachers should reconsider rules against students’ chewing habits After all a a a a a a a a a a a a a a student’s mental and physical health is more important than a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a piece of
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gum underneath a a a a a a a a a a a a desk At the the the end of
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the the the day teachers don’t know what’s going inside a a a a a a a a student’s mind- whether a a a a a a a a student student is dealing with personal problems difficulty sleeping or or worrying levels ofanxiety asimplestickofgumcanbegintohelpthemout Calendar 3/27
NJHS Induction Ceremony
4/17
Service Learning Hours due
4/4
Prom
4/17
Grad Bash
4/10
Student/Teacher Holiday
4/23
Senior Boards
4/16
Blood Drive
4/24
Student Holiday










































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