Teacher’s response to student caught napping in class goes viral
A high school teacher in Cheney, Washington gets an “A” for his awesome ability to have compassion after catching a student napping in his class.
While many instructors might have read the offender the riot act for sleeping on the job, Monte Syrie of Cheney High School decided to take a different approach: he let her sleep. Shocked? Syrie wouldn’t be surprised with that reaction. In fact, he shared the experience on social media and addressed what many would likely think was the wrong reaction from an educator.
He wrote that he knew the student didn’t exactly “use time wisely in class,” but there was more to the story than a girl dozing off out of boredom.
her time wisely in class yesterday. She didn't get her essay turned in. She knew that. I knew that, but I didn't beat her up about it. Didn't have to. She emailed it to me last night at 9:00 PM. On her own. I know we all somewhat subscribe to this notion that there's a right way
— Monte Syrie (@MonteSyrie) May 16, 2018
The teacher recognized what many research studies show: today’s teens are juggling more in their schedules, all while getting less than their recommended 8.5 to 9.5 hours of sleep each night. In fact, only 32 percent of teenagers get at least eight hours of quality rest nightly.
As a result, Syrie suggested that more educators take a moment to “trust our instincts” when making a judgement call about something like this.
of doing things, and letting kids sleep in class falls outside the boundaries. I get it, and I'm not suggesting that we make it a permanent part of repertoire /routine, but I am suggesting that we sometimes trust our instincts, even if it goes against the grain, maybe especially
— Monte Syrie (@MonteSyrie) May 16, 2018
Meg, it turns out, gets up at 5 a.m. every day to tend to her horses and do other chores, has a math class at 7:10 a.m. and goes from there. For the record, Syrie shared that the snoozing student submitted her late essay (on her own) later that day.
essay done. In fact, serendipitously, she proudly told me so when I ran into her at the grocery store at 6:45 this morning. She was getting some breakfast before her 7:10 math class. She'd been up since 5:00 doing chores. #myroom #project180
— Monte Syrie (@MonteSyrie) May 16, 2018
The entire Twitter thread eventually went viral, not just among education professionals but also the general public. One student at a different school said she could relate to Meg’s busy schedule.
I love this because I never forgot the time a teacher offered to let me nap in her office because she knew I’d stayed up late with a dying colt and still been up at 4:30 to take care of the rest of my animals and drive to school for an FFA event. I plan to be a teacher like this.
— Tay (@NotActuallyTAN) May 18, 2018
As it turns out, this teacher’s compassion isn’t simply for one tired student. About a year and a half ago, Syrie noticed that when he brought in food to class, the kids would grab it up quickly. So, he started to provide it regularly and launched a program called Project Feed Forward to help keep students fueled and ready to go throughout the day.
“I think all kids have needs; and so, no questions asked, they just come in [and grab food],” Syrie told Spokane’s KHQ-TV.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngC5gOmfdoA
Way to go Mr. Syrie for making a difference in your students lives both inside the classroom and beyond its walls!
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