Teachers - do you mind being called by your first name (by parents)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Late to respond, but former elementary teacher here. It would be weird for me to be called by my first name. First, because most parents didn't know it. They were so used to hearing their kids call me Ms so and so. Second, because in elementary school we usually called each other Ms or Mr so and so whenever there were kids around, and it kind of got to be a habit. So we didn't use first names that much even among ourselves.

That may have been the case 20 years ago, but is no longer the case. Teachers don't do that anymore, especially not the younger ones.

-1000 At my school, young teachers and veterans address each other using last names. It makes life easier. I've worked with some of the same teachers for 20 years (and in one case I was her labor & delivery back-up called into action when the baby came early lol) and I still call them Mrs. LastName or Mr. LastName during the school day while in the school building.

[Anonymous]

I called my very dear colleagues Mr. Lastname and Ms. Lastname in front of students/ admins. We never called each other firstname unless we were in private. If the teacher signs their email "firstname" or asks you to call them "firstname", then firstname is appropriate.

I have always asked parents and senior students to call me by firstname. So, that is what I expect and what is appropriate. I have been very specific with <junior students that they should call me "Dr. Lastname", which is the appropriate title.

Ask the teacher what they would like to be called by both the parents and the students! I promise, they have been asked much ruder questions!>

[Anonymous]

I have no problem with parents using my guest name but do appreciate the token of respect in them initially calling me Ms. ____ until I invite them to please call me _____. I use first names for most parents if they sign their emails with a guest name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with parents using my guest name but do appreciate the token of respect in them initially calling me Ms. ____ until I invite them to please call me _____. I use first names for most parents if they sign their emails with a guest name.

Auuuugghh autocorrect on my .&&)%! Phone. *FIRST name, not guest name. Grrr

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't mind if I can address you by your first name. What I do mind is when a parent wants to address me by my first name and have me refer to them as Mr./Ms. I am not the help. I do this with doctors as well. If the doctor uses my first name I use his/hers in return.

+1,000

l

I have a neighbor who knows that I am a teacher, so she requests that I call her Mrs. X. I do not teach her children, nor will I ever teach her children as long as we live in the neighborhood we do.

Her rationale, which she very openly voiced, is that it is a term of respect since she is a parent of schoolchildren. When I responded that I too am the mother of school-aged children, she replied, "Of course, but you are also just a teacher," while addressing me by my first name.

Your neighbor is terrible. I wouldn’t call her anything because I wouldn’t be speaking to her anymore.

Yeah... and I would have not been able to keep a straight face when she spoke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I called my very dear colleagues Mr. Lastname and Ms. Lastname in front of students/ admins. We never called each other firstname unless we were in private. If the teacher signs their email "firstname" or asks you to call them "firstname", then firstname is appropriate.

I have always asked parents and senior students to call me by firstname. So, that is what I expect and what is appropriate. I have been very specific with <junior students that they should call me "Dr. Lastname", which is the appropriate title.

Ask the teacher what they would like to be called by both the parents and the students! I promise, they have been asked much ruder questions!>

See I find it weird that you have some kids say your first name and others your last name. That seems confusing but I assume that’s the culture of your school. My students would find it uncomfortable to call teachers by their first name. But if parents know my first name and want to use it? I don’t care.

[Anonymous]

I introduce myself to parents by first name. I always know several families in the grade from outside of school (who call me by my first name) and I don't want other families to feel like they are on different footing with me. Even if they choose to call me Ms. X, it feels more equitable to have offered. For kids, I insist they call me and every other adult in the building Mr./Ms X. Maintenance staff, cafeteria, volunteers, etc are addressed the same as teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with parents using my guest name but do appreciate the token of respect in them initially calling me Ms. ____ until I invite them to please call me _____. I use first names for most parents if they sign their emails with a guest name.

If you call them by their first name then you should expect them to call you by your first name, invited or not.

[Anonymous]

My DD’s teacher has asked for parents to use her first name. It feels so weird and I can’t bring myself to do it. I resort to avoiding situations in which I have to call her by name in the same way that my DH avoids calling my parents anything.

[Anonymous]

We don’t even use first names or courtesy titles when addressing each other as staff at Eastern in MCPS. We only use last names. If we refer to each other to students or parents, we use Ms./Mrs./Mr. Last Name. It is very jarring when a parent calls me by my first name.

[Anonymous]

As a teacher, I preferred to be addressed as, “Your Highness.”

[Anonymous]

I go by first name for everyone, including students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I go by first name for everyone, including students.

Clearly, you are the “cool” teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I go by first name for everyone, including students.

Clearly, you are the “cool” teacher.

NP. I went to H-B Woodlawn when this was the norm. I teach middle school now. If I call or email a parent, I sign or introduce myself as First name Last name. I don’t care if the parents call me by my first name although I think age has something to do with it. I’m mid 40s and most of my students’ parents appear to be roughly the same. 20 years ago, I went by Ms. Last name because I thought that would help establish me as a professional when dealing with parents who were a couple decades older.

[Anonymous]

It’s ridiculous to expect an adult to call a teacher Ms. Mrs. Mr. seriously ridiculous.

Kids use the proper salutation.

I think we can all handle that and know the difference between adults addressing each other.

Don’t make it harder than it has to be folks.