Comments on: Let student sleep or he’ll sue http://joannejacobs.com/2008/03/14/let-student-sleep-or-hell-sue/ Free-linking and thinking on education by Joanne Jacobs Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:10:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Monks http://joannejacobs.com/2008/03/14/let-student-sleep-or-hell-sue/#comment-72720 Monks Fri, 21 Mar 2008 07:15:48 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2008/03/14/let-student-sleep-or-hell-sue/#comment-72720 Also, why was the student working all night, and what was he working on? Is it part of his schooling? If it is a part-time job, why does he have to do that? And why was he allowed to use his computer all night, especially given the fact that it is what is called a "school night"? I searched online and found this page: http://www.snarfcompany.com/AboutUs.html Also, why was the student working all night, and what was he working on? Is it part of his schooling? If it is a part-time job, why does he have to do that? And why was he allowed to use his computer all night, especially given the fact that it is what is called a “school night”?

I searched online and found this page:

http://www.snarfcompany.com/AboutUs.html

]]> By: Coach K http://joannejacobs.com/2008/03/14/let-student-sleep-or-hell-sue/#comment-72664 Coach K Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:08:27 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2008/03/14/let-student-sleep-or-hell-sue/#comment-72664 Why should we wake them? Well, I don't know how many of you are held accountable for your failure rates, but I am. If I have too many of my kids fail my class, I am in trouble. If you sleep--you don't learn. Bottom line. If you sleep--I get in trouble. If you sleep--I could get fired. I'm not sadistic; I'm not cruel. However, I make my students aware of the fact that sleeping in my class is not acceptable either by accidentally tripping and kicking the desk or teaching very loudly right next to said person's desk. Oh wait--let me guess--that would disturb their sleeping. How sad. Why should we wake them? Well, I don’t know how many of you are held accountable for your failure rates, but I am. If I have too many of my kids fail my class, I am in trouble. If you sleep–you don’t learn. Bottom line. If you sleep–I get in trouble. If you sleep–I could get fired. I’m not sadistic; I’m not cruel. However, I make my students aware of the fact that sleeping in my class is not acceptable either by accidentally tripping and kicking the desk or teaching very loudly right next to said person’s desk. Oh wait–let me guess–that would disturb their sleeping. How sad.

]]> By: Soapbox Diva http://joannejacobs.com/2008/03/14/let-student-sleep-or-hell-sue/#comment-72619 Soapbox Diva Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:07:10 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2008/03/14/let-student-sleep-or-hell-sue/#comment-72619 From the perspective of someone who suffers from a sleep disorder, I am worried that some of these students may have a sleep disorder, sinus problems or allergies that are keeping them from being able to get quality sleep at night. In most cases I assume, the students are not allowing themselves enough time to sleep at night. I have also had a few arguments with parents who for some reason only needed five or six hours of sleep themselves and don't think their kids need more sleep than that. I never did actually fall asleep in school, but I also slept 9 hours on an average night to compensate for it. When I became an adult, my sleep problems were finally taken seriously by doctors, I have sleep asthma that results in sleep apnea, allergies that cause my airways to narrow, and also a slightly abnormal sinus cavity. I find Advair to be a godsend to sleeping at night. I do have a CPAP machine, but because the machine has to be set up at one level by a professional and I am not allowed to turn it down or up, I find it to be almost worthless to me because my problems are so variable. I rarely use the machine. I am fighting now with doctors to allow me to have control over the settings of my own CPAP machine, but so far I am losing. I am now old enough that I have asthma all the time, but in high school, I only had it at night, and I looked perfectly healthy. A lot of my sleep problem is due to allergies. Some students may not realize that allergies are affecting their sleep on some nights when they sleep just fine on most nights. Unfortunately, even now, a lot doctors and professional don't take sleep disorders seriously and it is just too easy to miss in older children, especially if it is a variable problem. Also, when my allergies are acting up, I sleep shallow at night, so even though I put the time in, I never get any deep sleep. Due to current weather patterns, I can tell that I barely got any deep sleep the last two nights, so right now I feel sleepy. I feel sorry for the students. Sorry to talk so much about myself, but I am using myself as an example. Yes, I do manage to stay awake at all times during work and while driving, but it is something that I have to fight hard at times. I know as teachers that teaching should be the responsibilty that you have to worry about, but I would seriously look into the possibilty of sleep disorders for the chronic tired or chronic sleepers. Something is wrong and I agree that it should not be allowed, but the students may need extra help. From the perspective of someone who suffers from a sleep disorder, I am worried that some of these students may have a sleep disorder, sinus problems or allergies that are keeping them from being able to get quality sleep at night. In most cases I assume, the students are not allowing themselves enough time to sleep at night. I have also had a few arguments with parents who for some reason only needed five or six hours of sleep themselves and don’t think their kids need more sleep than that.

I never did actually fall asleep in school, but I also slept 9 hours on an average night to compensate for it. When I became an adult, my sleep problems were finally taken seriously by doctors, I have sleep asthma that results in sleep apnea, allergies that cause my airways to narrow, and also a slightly abnormal sinus cavity. I find Advair to be a godsend to sleeping at night. I do have a CPAP machine, but because the machine has to be set up at one level by a professional and I am not allowed to turn it down or up, I find it to be almost worthless to me because my problems are so variable. I rarely use the machine. I am fighting now with doctors to allow me to have control over the settings of my own CPAP machine, but so far I am losing.

I am now old enough that I have asthma all the time, but in high school, I only had it at night, and I looked perfectly healthy. A lot of my sleep problem is due to allergies. Some students may not realize that allergies are affecting their sleep on some nights when they sleep just fine on most nights. Unfortunately, even now, a lot doctors and professional don’t take sleep disorders seriously and it is just too easy to miss in older children, especially if it is a variable problem.

Also, when my allergies are acting up, I sleep shallow at night, so even though I put the time in, I never get any deep sleep. Due to current weather patterns, I can tell that I barely got any deep sleep the last two nights, so right now I feel sleepy. I feel sorry for the students. Sorry to talk so much about myself, but I am using myself as an example. Yes, I do manage to stay awake at all times during work and while driving, but it is something that I have to fight hard at times.

I know as teachers that teaching should be the responsibilty that you have to worry about, but I would seriously look into the possibilty of sleep disorders for the chronic tired or chronic sleepers. Something is wrong and I agree that it should not be allowed, but the students may need extra help.

]]> By: Ruth Alvarez http://joannejacobs.com/2008/03/14/let-student-sleep-or-hell-sue/#comment-72609 Ruth Alvarez Wed, 19 Mar 2008 02:43:39 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2008/03/14/let-student-sleep-or-hell-sue/#comment-72609 I have a student who sleeps every day! Every day! I will sit here and wait to hear all the excuses as to why I should let him sleep every day. I have a student who sleeps every day! Every day!
I will sit here and wait to hear all the excuses
as to why I should let him sleep every day.

]]> By: Vital Core http://joannejacobs.com/2008/03/14/let-student-sleep-or-hell-sue/#comment-72515 Vital Core Mon, 17 Mar 2008 18:23:53 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2008/03/14/let-student-sleep-or-hell-sue/#comment-72515 <i>Why treat teenagers as adults when they are not?</i> This is what I mean about everyone disagreeing on how schools should be run. We are no longer one people in America. My view: personally, I was ready to act and be treated as an adult at age 13-15, and my kids will be as well. To my mind, a 15 yo who isn't acting as an adult has poor parents. Remember, in college at age 18 just a few years later, kids don't even have to <i>show up</i> for class. We had better start giving them rope before this, or expect disaster when the get free. Why treat teenagers as adults when they are not?

This is what I mean about everyone disagreeing on how schools should be run. We are no longer one people in America.

My view: personally, I was ready to act and be treated as an adult at age 13-15, and my kids will be as well. To my mind, a 15 yo who isn’t acting as an adult has poor parents. Remember, in college at age 18 just a few years later, kids don’t even have to show up for class. We had better start giving them rope before this, or expect disaster when the get free.

]]> By: Bart http://joannejacobs.com/2008/03/14/let-student-sleep-or-hell-sue/#comment-72451 Bart Sun, 16 Mar 2008 16:51:32 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2008/03/14/let-student-sleep-or-hell-sue/#comment-72451 <i>It is grossly disrespectful of a student to fall asleep in class.</i> I guess no one likes being disrespected, but does that really justify the sadistic and degrading "remedies" that have been suggested so far? I hate to think what some of you professionals would do if the student was really disruptive. I can understand that teachers have egos the same as everyone else, but sheesh. Maybe it's just that a sleeping student is vulnerable, and therefore an irresistible target. I'm surprised no one suggested placing his hand in a bowl of warm water. It is grossly disrespectful of a student to fall asleep in class.

I guess no one likes being disrespected, but does that really justify the sadistic and degrading “remedies” that have been suggested so far? I hate to think what some of you professionals would do if the student was really disruptive. I can understand that teachers have egos the same as everyone else, but sheesh.

Maybe it’s just that a sleeping student is vulnerable, and therefore an irresistible target. I’m surprised no one suggested placing his hand in a bowl of warm water.

]]> By: Hube http://joannejacobs.com/2008/03/14/let-student-sleep-or-hell-sue/#comment-72448 Hube Sun, 16 Mar 2008 14:35:56 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2008/03/14/let-student-sleep-or-hell-sue/#comment-72448 When I see a kid snoozing, I usually get the class's attention (silently indicating to them to be quiet), then pick up a pencil from the kid's desk and tickle his/her ear. Everybody gets a kick out of it and the sleeping kid usually remains awake! When I see a kid snoozing, I usually get the class’s attention (silently indicating to them to be quiet), then pick up a pencil from the kid’s desk and tickle his/her ear. Everybody gets a kick out of it and the sleeping kid usually remains awake!

]]> By: Tracy W http://joannejacobs.com/2008/03/14/let-student-sleep-or-hell-sue/#comment-72440 Tracy W Sun, 16 Mar 2008 09:41:19 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2008/03/14/let-student-sleep-or-hell-sue/#comment-72440 <i> Treat them as adults, and if they don’t act like it, kick them out.</i> Why treat teenagers as adults when they are not? Teenagers' brains are still maturing. There are mature teenagers, but to expect all teenagers to act as adults and then to just kick them out if they fail to live up to it is rather ridiculous. If you want teenagers to act more maturely, teaching them how to is more sensible. Treat them as adults, and if they don’t act like it, kick them out.

Why treat teenagers as adults when they are not?

Teenagers’ brains are still maturing. There are mature teenagers, but to expect all teenagers to act as adults and then to just kick them out if they fail to live up to it is rather ridiculous. If you want teenagers to act more maturely, teaching them how to is more sensible.

]]> By: Michael L http://joannejacobs.com/2008/03/14/let-student-sleep-or-hell-sue/#comment-72369 Michael L Sat, 15 Mar 2008 07:35:47 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2008/03/14/let-student-sleep-or-hell-sue/#comment-72369 I politely rouse the student and ask if it would help if he or she stood at the back of the room. It keeps a pleasant, work-focused tone while making it clear that it's necessary to stay awake. Earlier this year I tried three time to rouse a student by saying her name, louder each time. She didn't wake up, though the class was amused. I shrugged and let her sleep and went on with things. When she woke up classmates let her know what had happened. She said she'd got back from a school activity at 2 in the morning. She dislikes school intensely and is frequently absent or bored, but she does quite well on tests and major assignments. When I was in high school I fell asleep in a movie the last period of the day. The teacher didn't wake me but made everyone leave quietly then turned out the lights and left too. My friends went around to a window and beat on it till I woke up. I felt somewhat heroic in a comic mode rather than chastened, but I was sort of that way. I politely rouse the student and ask if it would help if he or she stood at the back of the room. It keeps a pleasant, work-focused tone while making it clear that it’s necessary to stay awake.

Earlier this year I tried three time to rouse a student by saying her name, louder each time. She didn’t wake up, though the class was amused. I shrugged and let her sleep and went on with things. When she woke up classmates let her know what had happened. She said she’d got back from a school activity at 2 in the morning.

She dislikes school intensely and is frequently absent or bored, but she does quite well on tests and major assignments.

When I was in high school I fell asleep in a movie the last period of the day. The teacher didn’t wake me but made everyone leave quietly then turned out the lights and left too. My friends went around to a window and beat on it till I woke up. I felt somewhat heroic in a comic mode rather than chastened, but I was sort of that way.

]]> By: BadaBing http://joannejacobs.com/2008/03/14/let-student-sleep-or-hell-sue/#comment-72365 BadaBing Sat, 15 Mar 2008 07:11:31 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2008/03/14/let-student-sleep-or-hell-sue/#comment-72365 I've learned to take the gentle approach. I've had kids in class with their heads on their desks because they're sick, tired, depressed or even crying. It's better to give them the benefit of the doubt than make matters worse and do something to embarrass yourself. I put my hand on the person's shoulder and ask if he/she would like to go to the nurse. They usually come out of it if nothing's wrong, but if they don't, you can always talk to them after class or some other time. I've found that a lot of my students don't get enough sleep, don't eat breakfast and so come to school physically unprepared for the day. I don't see any benefit in being a hardass about it. I’ve learned to take the gentle approach. I’ve had kids in class with their heads on their desks because they’re sick, tired, depressed or even crying. It’s better to give them the benefit of the doubt than make matters worse and do something to embarrass yourself. I put my hand on the person’s shoulder and ask if he/she would like to go to the nurse. They usually come out of it if nothing’s wrong, but if they don’t, you can always talk to them after class or some other time. I’ve found that a lot of my students don’t get enough sleep, don’t eat breakfast and so come to school physically unprepared for the day. I don’t see any benefit in being a hardass about it.

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