Dilema

This weeks delima is a conflict between empathy and professional responsibility. 
While teaching this week, I was shocked at how many students sleep during class time (and not just during my classes).  It is astounding!  Some try to hide the fact that they are napping by opening their book and propping their head up on their hand to imitate a reading stance while others make themselves comfortable and sprawl out on the desk- one student even used his jacket as a pillow.

However, what surprised me most was the teacher's response(s);  some gently nudge their student(s) as they walk by, some do the typical teacher maneuver and calls on the sleeping student to answer a question while the entire class snickers as they wake from their slumber and look around dazed and confused.  But more often than not, the teacher(s) just ignores it- plain and simple.

I   have asked numerous teachers about this "problem" and have been told by all about how hard working the students are and have been told in great detail about the students rigorous schedule; between waking up, traveling to school, club activities, travel home, and homework.  Often, students are only left with 5 or 6 hours to sleep before repeating this routine not only five days a week but six, sometimes seven!  

Initially, my nurturing, empathetic side feels for these poor kids- this exhausting, monotonous life style that is ingrained into Japanese society- these poor kids, they have no choice!  Then, my professional and disciplined ultra ego steps in and starts to get angry as I look at all the drooping heads in my classroom, those lazy eyes that can barely stay open.   I feel it is very rude to sleep when I am teaching.  I feel it is disrespectful- as if the students are telling me, whatever I am teaching is not important enough for them to feel the need to pay attention.

I can't help but wonder, in a  society that values balance- zen- how did things get so off balanced?   Students are sleeping in their desks, teachings are sleeping at their desks.....I see no balance between work and play- there is only work. 

So as an ALT teaching in a Foreign country, what do I say to my students?  Last week I assigned sleep as homework- lol.  I told my students,  "You have 7 hours of sleep for homework tonight" (did I mention sarcasm is not understood nor appreciated in Japan).    "You sleep at home, not at school, ok? "
Was I the one being rude?