I may have been eliding two phenomena, or maybe there were other
variables, including my particular students. But I noticed that in the
early years the boys tended to resist gum printing like crazy; those
students who took to it were almost invariably female.
Though this is hardly a scientific conclusion -- maybe the reason my
students like gum so much better now has nothing to do with change in the
air, coming of computer printing, or anything at all except the fact that
I know so much more myself. Since they start where I am, they do better
right off, more success, less frustration. Which in itself could be factor
in "revival," as you (or who?) suggested.
Cheers,
Judy