Do Professors Care If You Sleep In Class
We’ve either experienced this or seen it happen at some point in our education. For one reason or the other, you or a friend is so exhausted, you’re putting more effort into trying to stay awake than paying attention to the lecture.
Maybe the class is just boring, you pulled an all-nighter or the exhaustion stems from an earlier activity. Whatever the reason, you’re seconds away from dozing off.
But you’re not sure what the professor thinks about students sleeping in their classes. Do they care if you sleep in their class?
Do Professors Care If You Sleep
Even though professors view college students as adults who are capable of making decisions that are in their best interests, sleeping during ongoing lessons is considered rude behavior.
Professors put a lot of effort into creating their lessons, and while they may not mind students leaving class early, sleeping in class is considered disrespectful to the professor.
If you’re going to sleep in class, it’s advisable to simply walk out of the class to avoid disrupting any ongoing lessons.
What Professors Think About Students Sleeping In Class
Individual professors have their impressions about and reactions to students who sleep in their classes. Let’s take a look at a few.
Don’t Mind
They’re adults who don’t need a professor to teach them right from wrong. They must have their reasons for sleeping in class. This mentality is common at the college level.
College students are considered adults capable of making their own decisions. College education is expensive and students who decide to sleep after paying these large sums of money must have their reasons for their actions.
Professors were once students, so they understand what their students go through. A student may have pulled an all-nighter for a quiz or put in extra hours at work to pay for their education.
Whatever their reasons, the professor understands and would leave the student alone so long as they do not disrupt the class. Additionally, the professor still gets paid whether you decide to sleep or stay awake.
That said, most professors would confront a student during or after class to identify their reasons for sleeping in class. Depending on the student’s reasons, the professor may be able to make recommendations to help solve the issue.
Rude Behavior
Imagine putting in the effort to research and prepare lessons for your students, only to find a student sleeping while you’re trying your best to explain to them.
The professor begins to question the lesson and the possibility that students find it boring. They may call the student out to answer a question about the ongoing lesson.
While this can be quite embarrassing for the student, it gets the point across. So, it’s advisable to refrain from going to class if you’re too tired, unless the professor enforces attendance in some form.
And if the professor enforces attendance, you should avoid sleeping in their class as it could lead to an uncomfortable situation if they confront you during class.
Sympathize
College education isn’t easy especially if you have a family, a job, or both. In addition to your college assignments and studies, you need to make enough time for your family or work.
Some even have to juggle all three (college education, family, and work) at the same time. Maybe the student has some form of condition the professor doesn’t know about. Professors were once students and understand the troubles students go through.
Students may have schedules that leave little room for sufficient rest in their days. Some professors would sympathize with students and refrain from waking them.
Professors sometimes leverage this to prank the sleeping student. One trick that’s been repeated involves the professor quietly relocating the class (except the sleeping student) and turning off the lights in the lecture hall.
Students sometimes woke up to find themselves surrounded by students they don’t recognize, with a professor they don’t recognize standing in front of the class.
Boring Class
Most professors put in their best to ensure that they can engage their students during lessons. Finding a student sleeping in class can create the impression that the class is boring.
If it’s a single student snoozing off, it’s easy to believe they may have their reasons for sleeping. However, if several students are dozing off in the class, the professor will interpret this as a sign that the lesson is boring.
Why Students Sleep In Class
While there’re various reasons why students may sleep in class, we’ll be taking a look at some of the most common.
Boring Class
Not all college classes are the same. Some are a total snoozefest. It becomes impossible to focus throughout the duration of the class. And while students wouldn’t consciously decide to sleep in such classes, the human biology just takes over.
No matter how much you fight it, you end up dozing off. Some professors are aware their classes are boring and try to give short breaks during the lecture to help refresh students.
I mean you can’t blame the professors. Some courses are just boring and professors can keep students engaged without some creativity.
Narcoleptic Student
Narcolepsy usually begins just before or during the teen years and can impact a student’s school performance, instructor’s perceptions of them, and their interactions with peers.
School can be frustrating when narcolepsy makes it hard to stay alert in class and focus during tests. This and other medical conditions could be the result of the student sleeping in class.
It’s advisable for the student to alert their teachers and professors of such conditions to avoid any inconveniences.
Teaching After Lunch
Sleepiness after lunch is difficult to deal with as students. Students need to take lunch as concentration becomes difficult on an empty stomach.
Unfortunately, the human biology can be hard to fight as sleepiness sets in right after lunch. Even in the most exciting of classes, it’s possible to find students dozing off after lunch.
It’s therefore advisable for professors to schedule their classes before lunch or at the very least, try to schedule practical courses that might require a lot of movement or activity.
Mandatory Attendance
While attendance is optional for most college courses, some professors mandate attendance. Class attendance and participation may constitute a portion of students’ total assessment.
Students have no choice but to ensure that they make these lectures. Some students would rather spend their time on something else especially when they have some insight into the subject matter.
Late Notice
If for one reason or the other, a professor schedules a class with little notice, students may end up sleeping in class. This is understandable as it messes with their previous schedules.
Some students may have planned their work around the usual time but had to squeeze in an unplanned lecture. This late notice can lead to some students dozing off during class.
Busy Schedule
College education is not cheap and students need to make money to support themselves. And while individual students have their unique circumstances, some students have to juggle both work and school daily.
This leaves them little time to relax. In classes where students are already conversant with the lesson, they may use the time to relax.
