There was a time when there was no better way to irk a teacher than to chew gum in the classroom. But German schoolchildren are now being encouraged to do just that under a scheme to increase concentration and encourage learning.
In a pilot project at a primary school in Bavaria pupils are being given sticks of gum and told to chew them during lessons and at break time. It follows research which concluded that continuous chewing stimulates the brain.
"The positive effect of chewing probably lies in the fact that the part of the brain in the brainstem that keeps us alert is constantly stimulated, as a result of which the attention level rises, as does the flow of blood to the brain and with it the ability to learn," said Siegfried Lehrl, head of the Society of Brain Training and a scientist at the University of Erlangen.
Hans Dasch, headteacher at the Volkenschwand primary school in Bavaria, said he had decided to introduce active gum chewing because "children need to come to school without any fear and to feel contentment.
"The learning environment needs to match their needs, which is why we're encouraging them to chew gum during break times and in lessons."
He said sugar-free gum had an added health benefit in that it kept teeth clean during meals.
The plan was met with scepticism in some quarters, particularly by those concerned that it would encourage anti-social habits, and by others worried about the disposal of the used chewed gum.
"Estimates for Germany's towns and communities show that around €900m is spent on cleaning chewing gum from our streets every year," said historian Thomas Paulwitz, who penned his criticism of the project in a newspaper column. He said Germany's inner cities were on average littered with 35 pieces of gum a square metre, with each piece taking two minutes to remove at a cost of more than €1 a time.
But Dasch insisted his children were being encouraged to abide by certain rules. "They have made a firm agreement with teachers that they will keep their mouths closed while chewing, unless they want to speak, and that they will dispose of the gum in a proper manner."
Claims have long been made about the benefits of gum on concentration levels. In 2002 scientists from the University of Northumbria found people who chewed gum saw a 35% improvement in their ability to recall words.
Soldiers of the United States military have been supplied with free gum since the first world war due to the belief that it boosts soldiers' concentration and helps to relieve stress.
