Wednesday, December 3, 2008

More From The Gum Nazi

Remember awhile back when I wrote about the gum policies in one of Teddy's classes? Well he got busted today for gum chewing and his punishment is writing the word "gum" on every square on one side of a piece of graph paper.

When I wrote about the gum situation before, I was just citing Teddy's interpretation of the policy--but today I saw the "official" gum chewing violation punishment sheet--and it's even worse than I thought!

The first time they are caught chewing gum--they have to spit it into the "gum jar" which is kept in the classroom. The second time--they have to choose two consequences from the list below. The third time--they pick two and the teacher picks one. The fourth time there is a meeting with parents and the principal.

In addition to the ones I listed in the other post, there's:

1. Scrape 30 grams of gum from district property after school under teacher supervision.

2. After school, chew 5 pieces of gum for 20 minutes while watching yourself in the mirror (I choose the gum!)

3. Serve a formal, 45 minute after school detention.

4. List 30 reasons NOT to chew gum in class using a complete sentence for each. Number the reasons.

5. Write "I will not chew gum in the classroom" legibly 100 times on lined paper. Number the sentences.

6. Write by hand a 5-paragraph essay (minimum 200 words) on why gum should not be chewed in class.

7. Write by hand a research paper (minimum 400 words plus minimum 2 bibliography forms) on a topic related to gum. Choose one or propose your own (must be approved): How gum is made, ingredients of gum and their sources, history of gum, connection of gum to TMJ, disposal and environmental impact of gum, or safety issues related to gum.

One of the punishments that I had mentioned before--"squishing your hand in the gum jar" had more to it then I thought--the full punishment is "Squish your hand around in the gum jar for 10 minutes right before lunch." (!!!)

Clearly, this teacher HATES gum!

Teddy better watch his back--if he gets caught again, I think there will be some gum squishing in his future!

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33 comments:

Ronda's Rants said...

I still think this is the craziest set of rules I have ever heard!
Just make a clear punishment and call it a day...why all the drama?
Although...I would love to know what her punishments are for a more serious crime!

Erin said...

Whoa- did she have some sort of gum trama in her childhood??
I am a teacher and this is CRAZY!
The hand in the gum jar....that has to be illegal or something right??

Mimi said...

O.K., I know the teacher is in charge of the class, but this seems a tad extreme! If I was you I'd be getting this teacher a case of gum for Christmas!

Sandi said...

Hard core! I bet he doesn't chew another piece EVER!

Sera said...

Holy mackerel, are you KIDDING me? That is insane? I've never heard about so much effort going into a gum policy or punishment. That's just crazy. This teacher has serious issues.

Kori said...

Ridiculous. I mean seriosuly.

If you do have to go for Parent teacher conference I would go Chewing Gum.

Jennifer said...

Wowza- that teacher is not kidding around!

Allison said...

Wow...what is this teacher's issue with gum! I mean there were no gum policies when I went to school, but is it really THAT bad! What is wrong with just spitting it out when caught! I mean COME ON!

Ashley said...

We, too, had gum policies. In 6th grade I was caught chewing gum and had to take a letter home for my parents to sign letting them know I was chewing gum. I had braces at the time and thought I would be in BIG trouble if they found out I was chewing gum so I decided the best policy would be to forge the signature (in 6th grade penmanship) and turn back into the teacher. The teacher was not fooled and mailed the letter to my parents... forged signature and all. I was definitely in BIG trouble then. Oops!

Kristin said...

That is serious! I am a gum addict, glad I am not is school anymore. My hand would be in that jar for sure. Gross.

Jen said...

Seriously! Aren't there more important issues to deal with like pay attention in class. I can feel that teachers hate.

Anonymous said...

Woah! The gum jar? I would do ANYTHING to avoid that, ANYTHING!!!!

Back in the day, I went to a private school and if we were caught with gum we had to stick it on our nose and stand in the corner facing the classroom for 20 minutes, and that was on top of having our hands smacked with a ruler. OUCH!

I think Teddy's teacher has some sort of gum-related PTSD or something, because seriously, the gum jar is not only horribly unhealthy, I am sure it violates local health codes. That's just wrong.

Becky said...

I think this teacher is pushing it to a whole new level. That is ridiculous. I almost want to go talk to the principal myself about this!

Jeez!

Angie said...

Thats nuts, whats her problem with gum? I think i would throwup on the teacher if I had to squish my hand in gum...wonder if they have rules about vomiting, lol

Jessica said...

Again with the gum? Crazy teacher--wow!

Sugar Boogers & Tantrums said...

Wow! She really is serious about gum chewing. Scraping gum off under the supervision of a teacher. How gross. I would think it would make parents mad. Isn't that a sanitary issue? Just me thinking. And spitting the gum in a gum jar full of old chewed gum? How gross.

LOL! I agree with Mimi. Get her a case of gum for christmas.

CaraBee said...

While I agree that her list is a tad harsh, I really think this may be about more than just gum. Ie, follow the rules or there are consequences. The students do get a "bye" on their first one. When I was in school, we got swats for chewing gum. Seriously.

Jenni said...

That is craziness! For real!

I am curious if she has a policy on Tic Tacs or other breath mints...

Linda S said...

Seriously? That list is insane. Send the kids to the principal and call it a day. Stick your hand in the jar? How gross that she's keeping that jar. Health code violation fo' sho'. Sorry, I've just got the willies.

Anonymous said...

Ok, seriously....what did gum ever do to her???? She's definitely the Gum Nazi....and I'm thinking she needs to go to therapy.

In fact, if you are ever called to a parent/teacher meeting for this I'd suggest therapy to her....although you are much nicer than I am. I would be all like "um, there are kids shooting kids in other schools and you are having a fit about gum? Get over it!!!"

Susie said...

Gross!!! Just gross!

Temple said...

Is this for real? I mean, I'm all for kids following rules and being respectful and all of that...but, really? And aren't there like bigger things to go all Uber-Nazi about these days? Geesh!

Terra said...

WOW. That is about all I can say here. WOW. oh and gross, disgusting, cruel and unusual punishment...hmmm should I go on?

Ann Harrison said...

Reading this list makes me brake out in a cold sweat. Don't kids have enough to deal with these days? Why do they have to deal with a Gum Nazi?!
This teacher has some serious issues from the past, I believe.

Anonymous said...

I'm surprised she gets away with this, in this day and age!
The list does on the other hand show creativity! ;)

Dee said...

Holy cow... just give up the gum Teddy - its not worth it!

But what does eating 5 pieces of gum while watching yourself do? Is there an after effect that we don't know of???

Emsxiety said...

That's just gross. Sticking your hand in the gum jar, that other people have chewed on? Seriously? That teacher has some mental health issues.

Mamahut said...

Wow, teach needs to get a life!

Jane In The Jungle said...

OMG that is amazing!!! Wouldn't ya like to know what piece of gum she had been traumatised by as a kid!!!

Anonymous said...

I love her. This makes me laugh so, so hard...why was he chewing gum! LOL! You should anonomously send her a gumball machine for the holidays from amazon! HA!

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

That is SO over the top! I think the gumball machine is a fantastic idea. Muah ha ha!

Shannon said...

Utterly ridiculous.

I was caught with gum once when I was in the 8th grade... scraping gum off the underside of desks after school one day was the only punishment I got. I don't think I could handle the jar...

Jen said...

Those are some pretty harsh rules for chewing gum! I think the teacher may be a little nuts when it comes to the gum.... apparently other kids before Teddy must have made some messes???