While studying government in American History, a group of eighth grade students in Mrs. Amy Frank’s third period class got an idea – to put a petition together asking for students to be allowed to chew gum at Vernon Middle School.
The students researched the subject of gum chewing in the classroom during school and after school as well. They reviewed the pros and cons, and included that information in the petition. They also put together, with the help of VMS Assistant Principal Maggie Sasse, a list of expectations for students follow if chewing gum was allowed, along with a list of consequences for those who did not meet those expectations.
The petition was presented to the Student Activity Committee, which approved the petition and forwarded it on to VMS Principal Katrina Price. Principal Price said the presentation was very well put together, and she approved the gum chewing policy for a trial run during the 3rd six weeks.
Before the trial run began, all VMS chairs, tables, desks and bleachers were cleaned of gum.
Some of the expectations in the petition that students have to follow include: Not sticking gum under any chair, table, desk, bleacher or any other class furnishing; Keeping gum in your mouth while chewing; Chewing with your mouth closed and not smacking your gum; Throwing gum away in the trash.
The consequences for breaking any expectation includes: Writing and answering four questions; Serving detention; Serving detention plus the loss of privilege for a week. Detention plus the loss of privilege for the remainder of the six-week period; and Principal assigned consequences.