Public education is filled with 800 lb. gorillas in every room and in every corner. As a teacher I clearly understand there are problems with this proud profession. But, I also understand there are solutions some refuse to consider.

For example it is common knowledge a district schedule should have the younger elementary students come to school first and then the older students start their day at a later time. This is not a convenience solution; it is a physiological one. Few would argue our younger students are built to wake up early and do their best work in the morning hours. It is also know a secondary school aged student needs sleep and will do better work if they are allowed added time for sleep. We know this as fact yet refuse to act upon it.

It is an established fact that many of our struggling students concentrate better when they are allowed to study using music. I am not stating all students should be allowed to listen to i-pods during a class but they should be allowed to use them when they are studying for a test, writing a paper, or completing a variety of different assignments. Most schools do not allow this in fear the student may be cheating. This is one gorilla I will never understand.

There have been studies that show many students concentrate better when they are allowed to chew gum. There was an article in "The Frederick News Post: March 9, 2010. "When Frederick County Public Schools students sat down to begin taking the standardized tests Monday morning, many of them were armed with what Monocacy Elementary School Principal Jason Anderson calls "our secret weapon."

Citing research that shows chewing increases the ability to concentrate and has a positive effect on thinking, memory and other cognitive tasks, many schools are offering hard candy and chewing gum to students this week.

"There is this research that shows chewing helps us stay more attentive, and to stay on task," Anderson said Monday. "But there is that affective piece too -- it's the novelty, it's different and it probably just helps relieve some of the stress from taking the tests."

I once brought up the possibility of having my students be allowed to listen to music and even chew gum during time they are working on their own or taking tests. All I received was stares by the administrators and most of the teachers. I mean, how dare I question a procedure that has been going on in public schools for as long as public schools have been in operation? But, like the chalk boards of old, we as educators have got to find better means of motivating our students. If it takes giving out a piece of gum before every test; so be it.

Jim Fabiano is a teacher and writer living in York, Maine