Teacher Dave Sandler and his fifth-grade students from Pacific Beach Elementary inspected the gum pole on the corner of Bayard Street and Garnet Avenue on Tuesday, Sept. 20. After reading a story about the gum pole in the Beach and Bay Press in Sandler’s class, the fifth graders debated and wrote persuasive essays discussing whether the gum pole is a form of art or “disgusting.” Eleven students decided it was disgusting, while 18 felt that it was a form of art.
Sandler and his 29 students then walked to the pole at the corner of Bayard and Garnet to see for themselves. While at the pole, they inspected a section of sidewalk on Garnet Avenue, which was covered in black dots, remnants of discarded gum. After counting the dots, they estimated that there are more than 10,000 pieces of dried, dirty gum stuck to the sidewalks in just one block of Garnet Avenue. The students are now pondering solutions to the gum problem on Pacific Beach sidewalks. Ideas range from special collection receptacles outside each bar to inventions that could repurpose gum into glue or resin. “This project, prompted simply by reading an article in our local newspaper, increased awareness about our community and empowered the kids to want to make a change, ” explained Sandler.