Last week, Principal Andrew Popp and the Dinuba Unified School District announced that gum is now banned on campus. This can cause some issues for students as even though gum may cause problems, many students love flavorful gum. Whether it be to get rid of bad breath or to chew something, many students enjoy being able to chew it on campus. However, will this ban really work? Personally, I don’t think so.
The district implemented this ban because students often spit gum onto the concrete, creating quite a distasteful look on the campus grounds. Plus, the gum left on the concrete for long periods of time leaves a big stain. The gum and the stains are very hard to remove, and the machines used to get rid of them cost a lot of money.
Not only that, but the students also leave the gum wads hidden under the desks. It causes many issues and makes it hard for students to sit at a desk, knowing that if they touch a part of the bottom of the desk, they will end up touching an old chewed piece of gum. Gum is also quite a distraction for the class. Many people get annoyed at the sound of gum chewing. The sound of gum popping is probably irritating for the teachers trying to do their job. But let’s be honest; at the end of the day, students will always have gum with them.
After the ban was announced, many students started commenting that the ban was stupid and that the disciplinary measures suggested (major referrals for being caught chewing) were ridiculous. However, the district has made no comment about removing the ban. At times, I have seen students purposefully spit out gum as a sign of protest. I also see students smuggling gum to each other as if it is an actual illegal substance. It’s funny to see because this shows how the ban won’t work. If the district wants gum banned, they need to make more procedures. Just giving referrals and suspensions won’t stop students from chewing gum.
In conclusion, this ban will most likely not work at all. Many students outright ignore the ban and find ways to smuggle the contraband. The overall student opinion of the band is negative. I, as well as other students, believe that the ban is not the best idea. Aren’t there other issues on campus that are more pressing for the administration to pursue?
