TikTok Teacher Allows Students to Sleep in Class—But What Do the Experts Say?

For students, dozing off at their desks is usually considered a no-no, punishable by detention or at least a note home. But one former middle school teacher went viral for a video encouraging teachers to empathize with students who doze off in class.

"Sometimes, the nicest thing a teacher can do for a student is let them come in, lay their head down, and go to sleep," said TikTok user Brandon Holeman (@bcholeman).

Holeman went on to explain why it's important to put yourself in the student's shoes before labeling them as lazy. "I had a student who came into class today, and he was visibly upset," Holeman continued.

Before class started, one of the student's friends let the teacher know that this student's grandfather had just died the night before. So when Holeman went to administer a test that day, the student had a special note attached to their exam: "I'm sorry for your loss. I'm praying for you. You already have a 100 on this test. Just turn it in."

"I don't say this to brag, and I don't say this to build myself up," the former teacher said. "I say this because sometimes, as teachers, our tests are not as important as our student's personal life."

The video has racked up 7.4 million likes and 89.3K comments, many of which gave the TikToker a virtual standing ovation.

"We need more teachers like you. As a mom of three teens, thank you," commented one person. "Imagine having a fair and understanding teacher … we need more people like you," concurred another. "You make me believe in the power of schools again," another said.

While the video is from February 2020, it remains as relevant as ever. "Teachers are like first responders, and they need to know what to do [in difficult situations]," says Regine Muradian, Psy.D., a licensed clinical psychologist who helped start Team Project RISE, a program aimed at helping train educators to help students with mental health issues.

But is letting a student sleep through class the way to go? It's complicated. Karen Aronian, Ed.D., a New York-based parenting and education expert, is encouraged by the video. Aronian says some teachers incorporate mental health breaks into their students' days, letting kids put their heads down on their desks for five minutes.

But Aronian doesn't think it's a good idea to turn a blind eye to a student sleeping in class. "They're there to get information, lessons, and learn," the educator expert explains. That said, Aronian doesn't think teachers should use punishment if they catch their students snoozing.

"When you see that behavior, you want to come at it with compassion and empathy," Aronian tells Parents. "That's how you're going to build communication, connection, and performance."

Aronian suggests teachers speak with the student, parent, and the school therapist or a social worker to find the root cause of a child's sleep troubles. And it's good to be aware of what the most common ones are. "The sleep is just a fraction of other things happening," Dr. Muradian says.

The following are a handful of common reasons a student might be sleeping in class, according to Aronian:

• Insomnia
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Struggles with time-management
• Too much screen time
• Difficulty with a transition, such as from junior high to high school or a divorce

Routines can also play a role in how tired a student may be. As parents prepare their kids to head back to the classroom after a summer break, for example, many family routines and daily schedules change quickly, adding stress.

A few ideas to help families make the seasonal transition include:

• Create a family calendar at least two weeks before school starts.
• Gradually move bedtimes from a summer schedule to a school year schedule.
• Talk to your kids about how they are feeling and address any anxiety.
• Plan something special to mark the end of summer and the beginning of the school year.

Once the adults and the student identify the issues, they can work together to find a solution. For some kids, tiredness may be due to changing routines; for others, there may be more serious issues happening at home.

"[Caregivers can] partner with the teacher [and mental health professional] at school as best they can to figure out how to go forward with that student," Aronian says. Examples might include having the child speak with a therapist or working with them to develop a routine.