School administrators have a sticky problem on their hands.
To chew or not to chew, that is the question.
In some school districts it's allowed. In others, it's forbidden.
"We still do not want chewing gum in our schools," said Norwin Superintendent Jack Boylan. "It's not that we don't want fresh breath, but it's the negative impact that results in us not wanting it here. It ends up under tables and on a tray. Then we have to clean it up."
But what was once almost universally off limits to students is at least tolerated in some schools.
Hempfield Area, the county's largest school district, does not permit gum chewing, but no longer makes having any a punishable offense.
This year, Hempfield administrators changed the student handbook to reflect that gum chewing no longer will result in disciplinary action.
"We're just loosening our requirements on gum chewing," Superintendent Terry Foriska said. "We still tell kids it's a distraction, but it is a hard thing to enforce. Sometimes a teacher is not even aware a student has any gum in their mouth."
A generation ago, gum chewing in class could be met with detention or even public embarrassment. Who doesn't remember when teachers forced a student to place a wad of the sticky goo on his or her nose as punishment?
But enforcing a gum ban is becoming less a priority in some schools.
Derry Area School District permits secondary students to chew gum, but limits it to certain areas.
The policy specifies that no gum chewing is permitted in carpeted areas of buildings such as band and chorus rooms, the library and computer labs, as well as other locations such as the gym.
Teachers can decide whether students can chew in the classroom.
Derry administrators have this warning for students: "Gum belongs in your mouth."
And here's something to chew on: According to a 2002 study conducted at the University of Northumbria in Newcastle, England, gum can help to make people smarter and improve their memory.
In that study, scientists tested 75 people and found that those who chewed gum during an exam performed better than those with empty mouths.
Want another excuse to chomp in class?
Dentists say it's OK.
That's because some brands of gum now contain a sugar substitute called Xylitol, which inhibits cavities, said Greensburg pediatric dentist Dr. Barry Bupp.
"We're now actually encouraging kids to chew gum. It's kind of a neat turnaround," Bupp said.
Even with science and dentistry now firmly in the gum-chewing camp, decorum must prevail.
"As long as they keep it in their mouth and aren't cracking it, we don't make a big deal out of it," said Greensburg Salem Superintendent Thomas Yarabinetz.
