31
31
0
So I have been thinking about posting this question/discussion ever since I joined this community. A few years ago I was sitting in a Sergeants time training when I was suddenly attacked by the Z monster. Instead of submitting to this beast I decided to stand up and stand in the back of the class. After the class, I was approached by the class instructor and was informed in a harsh manner that standing is a sign of disrespect and I should have the discipline to stay awake.
While I sort of agree with him, I had always been under the impression, that if you are tired in class stand up because sleep is akin to slapping the instructor in the face. The stand up rule has been repeated in nearly every professional development course I have attended. I want to see what the community has to say about this topic.
Note: I did not unintentionally make any disrespect sighs or movements when I was standing. The sole issue was the fact that I stood.
While I sort of agree with him, I had always been under the impression, that if you are tired in class stand up because sleep is akin to slapping the instructor in the face. The stand up rule has been repeated in nearly every professional development course I have attended. I want to see what the community has to say about this topic.
Note: I did not unintentionally make any disrespect sighs or movements when I was standing. The sole issue was the fact that I stood.
Posted in these groups: 
Instructing
Disrespect
Instructing Disrespect
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 194
2
2
0
2
2
0
As an NCO, you know your limitations. Being tired and avoiding falling asleep in a class, meeting, etc standing up helps to fight the urge quite a bit. Disrespect would have been falling asleep, or in your class instructors response he was disrespectful and showed a serious lack of leadership for lecturing your for taking initiative to stay awake.
A Leader does what it takes. Keep standing up if need be. Of course, get some sleep, manage your time necessary to be able to stay awake. Be the Leader you want other to want to follow.
A Leader does what it takes. Keep standing up if need be. Of course, get some sleep, manage your time necessary to be able to stay awake. Be the Leader you want other to want to follow.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
I'm not sure where this instructor was trained but he/she is dead wrong. It would be more disrespectful to just sleep in place.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
I also stand in these situations, I've had people complain that it is a distraction. I explain that me snoring will be even more of a distraction. I also explain that I'm a disabled vet and that sometimes I have to stand up due to knee, hip, and back pain. That generally does the trick.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
In my opinion it would be disrespectful to stay seated and fall asleep. Taking the initiative to stand up and give the instructor his full attention was the right thing to do. I have attended training classes where the instructor would have the class stand and do calisthenics if he or she noticed the students were getting tired.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
You showed the proper discipline by standing up and moving to the back of the room to stay awake. Unless I slept through it, I don't remember the class on "staying awake discipline" in basic or OBC. You did good!
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
Falling asleep is a sign of disrespect. Look sometimes the class material is just boring, it doesn't matter if Jim Carey presents it, you are not going to be able to not get drowsy. For example I gave class on the way the DOD organizes lot numbers on the Ammunition. Discipline is accomplishing the goal against your most basic physical instincts, by standing up you are showing discipline by accomplished the task against your physical wishes. The instructor I believe was wrong on this subject.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
2
2
0
I can not recall in my memory bank, being a student in any military training class or course where the instructor did not say, "If you find yourself falling asleep, don't make me embarrass you by calling you out, stand up and move to the back of the class!"
Sergeant "Moron" was an idiot!
Sergeant "Moron" was an idiot!
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
I would rather the person stand up than to fall asleep. In fact I think it shows more respect for me as an instructor if the person does stand up! It lets me know that I am losing the class and need to change things up to keep students engaged.
People fall asleep for many reasons. Sickness, heavy work load, or the class is boring. It's not just about laziness. It's actually lazy to assume.
As instructors we need to find creative ways to keep people engaged. A one hour powerpoint class will make most people fall asleep. There are many ways to keep people up other than griping and having people do push-ups. Practical exercises, hands-on, asking questions, and an active environment all help.
If people are falling asleep, we need to first consider why and not be so arrogant to believe it is the fault of the student instead of the boring class we put together.
People fall asleep for many reasons. Sickness, heavy work load, or the class is boring. It's not just about laziness. It's actually lazy to assume.
As instructors we need to find creative ways to keep people engaged. A one hour powerpoint class will make most people fall asleep. There are many ways to keep people up other than griping and having people do push-ups. Practical exercises, hands-on, asking questions, and an active environment all help.
If people are falling asleep, we need to first consider why and not be so arrogant to believe it is the fault of the student instead of the boring class we put together.
(2)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google