Anonymous wrote:Relatively new poster here (I posted once on the first page I think).

I don't like students addressing teachers by their first name because to there was some 1980s B movie with a bunch of preppy kids who called all their teachers by their first names, and it was clear the writers wanted us to know that these preppy kids thought they were really superior to these low life teachers, so that was how they broadcast it. Anyway, now when I hear kids calling teachers by their first names, I just keep thinking about James Spader or whoever the cute blonde guy it was in this movie.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Collegiality," as a PP in favor of first names mentioned? I do not consider my child to be a colleague of his teachers or any other adults, and I would not like him to think of himsalf as one.

My child is most certainly not a colleague of her teachers. She can run circles around those jerks.[/quote]

Why not homeschool, then, if you consider your child's teachers to be jerks?

BTW - You're an ass.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Collegiality," as a PP in favor of first names mentioned? I do not consider my child to be a colleague of his teachers or any other adults, and I would not like him to think of himsalf as one.

My child is most certainly not a colleague of her teachers. She can run circles around those jerks.[/quote]

Why not homeschool, then, if you consider your child's teachers to be jerks?

BTW - You're an ass.

I'm pretty confident that the pp was being sarcastic about her child running circles around the teachers. Folks are pretty fired up tonight, eh?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No child is the social equal of an adult. That is what use of the requisite title reinforces.

This statement bothers me. I think this mentality is what disempowers children from coming forward as victims of abuse and at the same time empowers the abuser to think the kid will not tell. IMO this is why these situations happen more within the Roman Catholic and Christian Fundamentalist faiths than others, the view that some humans are superior to others. All humans deserve respect.

After attending a very traditional K-8, my DC now attends a progressive high school. I was feeling pretty icky about the addressing teachers by first name policy, but everything else regarding the school's fit to my child was perfect. So I decided to bite the bullet on the first name issue, much the same way I decided to bite the bullet on the "girls can not wear pants" issue at the previous school.

I now feel very differently about the first name policy. I have found at the high school level it has helped create an environment where DC is taking more responsibility for her education. She has learned not to shy away from conflict or accept a situation and/or grade/assignment that does not seem quite right and to respectfully negotiate and stand her ground and to be her own advocate. It is ALWAYS respectful and she also accepts that the educator does have the last word. I credit this to the feeling of openness and mutual respect the first name policy has created at my child's school.

That said, she still addresses adults as Mr. Ms. Mrs until invited to address them by last name. Funny enough, though this is what we have modeled for her since day one, *I* have always preferred children address me by first name. The Ms or Mrs thing always seemed cold to me.

oh no - Here we go again . . . more Catholic bashing.
When will it end?

So you've made the oddest connection, PP, - from the use of titles when addressing teachers to predators!

Bravo for being such a dingbat!

Anonymous wrote:Relatively new poster here (I posted once on the first page I think).

I don't like students addressing teachers by their first name because to there was some 1980s B movie with a bunch of preppy kids who called all their teachers by their first names, and it was clear the writers wanted us to know that these preppy kids thought they were really superior to these low life teachers, so that was how they broadcast it. Anyway, now when I hear kids calling teachers by their first names, I just keep thinking about James Spader or whoever the cute blonde guy it was in this movie.

Anonymous wrote:And then there is the story (not sure if entirely true) that, at some function at his house that included other NFL team owners, Mr Synder insisted that everyone, including the other NFL team owners, call him Mr Synder. And that is why we all like Danny so much. More seriously, calling teachers by their last name is simply a sign of respect. While teachers are and will be wrong at times, students generally should defer to them, and respect is part of that equation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No child is the social equal of an adult. That is what use of the requisite title reinforces.

This statement bothers me. I think this mentality is what disempowers children from coming forward as victims of abuse and at the same time empowers the abuser to think the kid will not tell. IMO this is why these situations happen more within the Roman Catholic and Christian Fundamentalist faiths than others, the view that some humans are superior to others. All humans deserve respect.

After attending a very traditional K-8, my DC now attends a progressive high school. I was feeling pretty icky about the addressing teachers by first name policy, but everything else regarding the school's fit to my child was perfect. So I decided to bite the bullet on the first name issue, much the same way I decided to bite the bullet on the "girls can not wear pants" issue at the previous school.

I now feel very differently about the first name policy. I have found at the high school level it has helped create an environment where DC is taking more responsibility for her education. She has learned not to shy away from conflict or accept a situation and/or grade/assignment that does not seem quite right and to respectfully negotiate and stand her ground and to be her own advocate. It is ALWAYS respectful and she also accepts that the educator does have the last word. I credit this to the feeling of openness and mutual respect the first name policy has created at my child's school.

That said, she still addresses adults as Mr. Ms. Mrs until invited to address them by last name. Funny enough, though this is what we have modeled for her since day one, *I* have always preferred children address me by first name. The Ms or Mrs thing always seemed cold to me.

oh no - Here we go again . . . more Catholic bashing.
When will it end?

So you've made the oddest connection, PP, - from the use of titles when addressing teachers to predators!

Bravo for being such a dingbat!

Did you pick up these manners and lack of tolerance for the views from others as you were addressing your educators and elders by titles?

Anonymous wrote:omg. can we start a post on hating dan snyder. that would be awesome and endless.

Anonymous wrote:As a professor, I see students who show respect and those who do not--and the difference does not hinge upon whether or not students call me by my first name. I allow students to call me Prof, Dr, Ms, or First Name. When students email me, they show disrespect by addressing me "Yo Prof!" (seriously), rather than "Dear First Name." It's all context.