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inverse_narcissus
Joined: 17 Oct 2006
Location: Masan / the pub
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 Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 6:18 pm Post subject: Public Middle School: sleeping jivas |
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I'm a week into my first ever teaching job - it's at a public middle school and a third of my students are 3rd-grade boys, aged between 12 and 14.
The enthusiasm among these students is very often lacking, but there's one thing that's particularly getting on my nerves. That is, students who sit with their heads on the desk, dozing for the duration of the class.
I asked my (Korean) co-teacher about it, and he explained that these students, apparently, are seen as more athletic than academic; they spend their after-lunch classes training and playing sports and most of their morning (class) hours sleeping. The teachers condone this for the most part, not disturbing them during class.
This is appalling in the learning culture that I/we come from. It would be seen as an insult to the teacher if a student were sleeping at his desk. Moreover, the prevailing attitude seems to dismiss these students as unintelligent and unfit for learning.
My question is: what's the correct approach to take?
The easier path of accepting the prevailing attitude and letting them sleep?
The more difficult path of teaching these students, showing them that perhaps there's more to them than just athleticism? |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 6:29 pm Post subject: Re: Public Middle School: sleeping jivas |
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| inverse_narcissus wrote: |
I'm a week into my first ever teaching job - it's at a public middle school and a third of my students are 3rd-grade boys, aged between 12 and 14.
The enthusiasm among these students is very often lacking, but there's one thing that's particularly getting on my nerves. That is, students who sit with their heads on the desk, dozing for the duration of the class.
I asked my (Korean) co-teacher about it, and he explained that these students, apparently, are seen as more athletic than academic; they spend their after-lunch classes training and playing sports and most of their morning (class) hours sleeping. The teachers condone this for the most part, not disturbing them during class.
This is appalling in the learning culture that I/we come from. It would be seen as an insult to the teacher if a student were sleeping at his desk. Moreover, the prevailing attitude seems to dismiss these students as unintelligent and unfit for learning.
My question is: what's the correct approach to take?
The easier path of accepting the prevailing attitude and letting them sleep?
The more difficult path of teaching these students, showing them that perhaps there's more to them than just athleticism? |
3rd grade MS students would be age 14-15, actually.
When I students with their heads down I just pull them right back up without missing a beat. Yes, middle school sucks but my class isn't nap-time. |
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formerflautist
Joined: 30 May 2006
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| Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 6:36 pm Post subject: |
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| A quick flip against the ear will wake them up. Repeat offenders lose their chair. |
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ED209
Joined: 17 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 6:36 pm Post subject: |
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| 30 star jumps should wake them up, then take away their desk, chair and slippers(socks too). See if they can sleep standing up with cold feet. |
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butlerian
Joined: 04 Sep 2006
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 6:39 pm Post subject: |
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| You should try teaching 1st grade at middle school. My co-teacher and I have to spend a lot of time keeping the kids quiet because they get so excited about speaking English, especially in front of the class! Of course, that all changes by grade 2. |
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Jizzo T. Clown
Joined: 27 Mar 2006
Location: at my wit's end
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| Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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| What would happen if you just let them sleep? |
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inverse_narcissus
Joined: 17 Oct 2006
Location: Masan / the pub
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| Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 6:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Jizzo T. Clown wrote: |
| What would happen if you just let them sleep? |
THAT's what I'm trying to figure out. Clearly, this behaviour is as unacceptable for most others here [on this forum] as it is for me, and measures are taken against it.
However, I don't know if I should just conform to the attitude taken by other teachers and leave the sleepers be. It goes against much of my Western educational belief, but so too does a lot of other stuff that goes on in Korean schools.... |
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yingwenlaoshi
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Location: ... location, location!
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| Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 6:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Athletes? What? The tiddlywink team? |
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hubba bubba
Joined: 24 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 6:55 pm Post subject: Re: Public Middle School: sleeping jivas |
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| inverse_narcissus wrote: |
| apparently, are seen as more athletic than academic; they spend their after-lunch classes training and playing sports and most of their morning (class) hours sleeping. |
Hahaha... that's a good one. Fitst time I've heard that excuse.
Korea seems to be getting more and more retarted by the day. |
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inverse_narcissus
Joined: 17 Oct 2006
Location: Masan / the pub
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| Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 6:56 pm Post subject: |
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Taekwondo, apparently. They're pushed to train so hard so they can get into high school and/or university on taekwondo scholarships. But their education suffers and, if they don't make it, they're given a place in an insignificant college and they should be happy with what they've been given.
Such is my understanding of it. |
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ilovebdt
Joined: 03 Jun 2005
Location: Nr Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 6:56 pm Post subject: |
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| yingwenlaoshi wrote: |
| Athletes? What? The tiddlywink team? |
My school has a very good handball team.
I poke the sleepers and repeat offenders get to stand up for the whole lesson.
I also ask the person sitting next to the sleeper if they are dead. It makes their classmate laugh and so they shake them awake.
ilovebdt |
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ron_j
Joined: 02 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 7:00 pm Post subject: |
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| I'd drop a heavy book right in their vicinity. Then say, Ooops did I wake you? If you want to be nice, then ask if they need to go to the nurse. If not, then get your head up. Those were my 2 approaches in the US, since we can't really touch students. |
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boss penguin
Joined: 01 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 7:20 pm Post subject: Re: Public Middle School: sleeping jivas |
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| inverse_narcissus wrote: |
I'm a week into my first ever teaching job - it's at a public middle school and a third of my students are 3rd-grade boys, aged between 12 and 14.
The enthusiasm among these students is very often lacking, but there's one thing that's particularly getting on my nerves. That is, students who sit with their heads on the desk, dozing for the duration of the class.
I asked my (Korean) co-teacher about it, and he explained that these students, apparently, are seen as more athletic than academic; they spend their after-lunch classes training and playing sports and most of their morning (class) hours sleeping. The teachers condone this for the most part, not disturbing them during class.
This is appalling in the learning culture that I/we come from. It would be seen as an insult to the teacher if a student were sleeping at his desk. Moreover, the prevailing attitude seems to dismiss these students as unintelligent and unfit for learning.
My question is: what's the correct approach to take?
The easier path of accepting the prevailing attitude and letting them sleep?
The more difficult path of teaching these students, showing them that perhaps there's more to them than just athleticism? |
The idea that some students are given preferential treatment based on their percieved worth and academic potential is one that I find morally wrong. "Type-casting" student types at such an early age can only have lasting detrimental effects on their personal growth/development, and sense of self. I don't care how much they love soccer. Tell someone their stupid enough times and they start to believe it. Being able to bend it like Beckham, only pays bills if you are Beckham. I'm not saying that P.E. isn't important, rather that students should be made aware life off the field.
While it's true that people have multiple intelligences, skills/abilities, ways of thinking/learning, I argue that classroom attentiveness and academic work ethic are of tantamount importance and that we as teachers have a moral obligation to encourage this.
Students who would rather sleep than engage with class room exercises have essentially been told that it's ok to not study because, well their athletic, and not very bright, and well, we don't expect much from them. Bull shit. Education should supercede Physical Education. always. Individuals who overcome the odds and make a living as sporting professionals represent an extreme minority. We as educators must convey the value of education which means not sleeping in class.
Short term: the road less traveled= bumpy ride. Long term: better chance of success in life= smooth sailing.
let's hear your thoughts. |
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inverse_narcissus
Joined: 17 Oct 2006
Location: Masan / the pub
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| Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 7:26 pm Post subject: Re: Public Middle School: sleeping jivas |
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| boss penguin wrote: |
| inverse_narcissus wrote: |
I'm a week into my first ever teaching job - it's at a public middle school and a third of my students are 3rd-grade boys, aged between 12 and 14.
The enthusiasm among these students is very often lacking, but there's one thing that's particularly getting on my nerves. That is, students who sit with their heads on the desk, dozing for the duration of the class.
I asked my (Korean) co-teacher about it, and he explained that these students, apparently, are seen as more athletic than academic; they spend their after-lunch classes training and playing sports and most of their morning (class) hours sleeping. The teachers condone this for the most part, not disturbing them during class.
This is appalling in the learning culture that I/we come from. It would be seen as an insult to the teacher if a student were sleeping at his desk. Moreover, the prevailing attitude seems to dismiss these students as unintelligent and unfit for learning.
My question is: what's the correct approach to take?
The easier path of accepting the prevailing attitude and letting them sleep?
The more difficult path of teaching these students, showing them that perhaps there's more to them than just athleticism? |
The idea that some students are given preferential treatment based on their percieved worth and academic potential is one that I find morally wrong. "Type-casting" student types at such an early age can only have lasting detrimental effects on their personal growth/development, and sense of self. I don't care how much they love soccer. Tell someone their stupid enough times and they start to believe it. Being able to bend it like Beckham, only pays bills if you are Beckham. I'm not saying that P.E. isn't important, rather that students should be made aware life off the field.
While it's true that people have multiple intelligences, skills/abilities, ways of thinking/learning, I argue that classroom attentiveness and academic work ethic are of tantamount importance and that we as teachers have a moral obligation to encourage this.
Students who would rather sleep than engage with class room exercises have essentially been told that it's ok to not study because, well their athletic, and not very bright, and well, we don't expect much from them. Bull *beep*. Education should supercede Physical Education. always. Individuals who overcome the odds and make a living as sporting professionals represent an extreme minority. We as educators must convey the value of education which means not sleeping in class.
Short term: the road less traveled= bumpy ride. Long term: better chance of success in life= smooth sailing.
let's hear your thoughts. |
Thanks for that, Mr. Penguin Dude. I think I always agreed with this opinion, but I needed to be told a few times. There are many things about Korea's education culture I don't agree with - like coropral punishment - but demoting a student like this does far more long-term damage than any whack of a love-stick, methinks.
Now I have to figure out how to motivate these students into (a) waking up, and (b) taking part in class. |
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Bukowski
Joined: 29 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 7:52 pm Post subject: |
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Basic needs...
It doesn't need to be explained. If students come to school without breakfast, would you expect them to study? If students come to school in dirty clothes without adequate sleep, would you expect them to study? Need I continue?
During my student-teaching days in Yakima, we had a before-school and an after-school program. Our school fed the kids breakfast, lunch, and a dinner/snack in the late afternoon (all the while helping them with their studies). Why? These kids were living in poverty, and it was unrealistic of the district to expect to be able to retain kids and keep them focused if their basic needs weren't being met.
These students that are on teams, etc. aren't treated much differently than all-star players were treated in the 1950-1980s in the U.S. Things are different today, but it took a long time for schools to change their grade policies and put an individual's education ahead of the school winning.
If you think you are going to change Korea, go for it. However, you might just upset everyone around you without changing a thing. Understand where you are and do the best within the rules and space you are given.
In the past, I have simply asked for those students to go to the nurse's room and sleep.
Good luck,
AC |
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