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Monday, September 12, 2005
Sleepers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A recent photo of kids sleeping in class prompted some complaints here at the paper. Readers wondered why we had to show that, and it’s true the photo did not match the story. But the issue of sleeping in class is a legitimate one. I sometimes see kids sleeping in class when I visit schools, especially if I’m there for first period. Often it’s near the end of the class, and the student is resting before the bell rings. Other times, the student sleeps through the entire class. This trend is most common in high schools, but occasionally I see kids sleeping in elementary and middle schools.
Often it seems the kids are bored and unmotivated. But sometimes, especially with younger kids, it’s clear they did not get sleep the night before. These kids are not just dozing, they are unable to stay awake.
What’s a teacher to do? (Besides be mortified that a reporter is witnessing the scene) Try to wake the child up? Or let the child get some needed sleep? With older kids, should sleepers be punished?
