Reply to Is Georgetown Day's Reputation Merited?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]One thing that made us uncomfortable about GDS is boundaries. You call the teacher by the first name and the kids seem more informal with the teachers than at other places. We want our kids to see teachers as caring adults who guide and teach, but not as friends and equals. Some people love that aspect of GDS, just wasn't for us.[/quote]

While calling teachers and administrators by their first names is symbolic, it is the rare child who does not understand that teachers nonetheless command a great deal of respect and authority. Teachers may be friendly, but my children have never mistaken their teachers as "friends," nor do the teachers and administrators view their students as such. Teachers are masterful at controlling the classroom, understanding the needs of each child, and guiding the child to his/her potential. The setting is informal, but the learning and commitment to intellect are about as serious as you will find anywhere. [/quote]

Right. And there is nothing more charming than having a 6 or 7 year old refer to an adult as "Fred."[/quote]

Maybe in your world. But in mine, adults prefer that children call them by their first names. And, yes, the children are--gasp!--nice, well-behaved, and well-spoken. [/quote]

Typical liberal, self-centered point of view. It's what the adults "prefer" that is important, not what is best for the kids. What better way to keep feeling young than to have 12 year olds address you by your first name!![/quote]

Actually, it is best for kids to know what other people preferred to be called., don't you think? If an adult prefers to be called by his first name, then that is what he should be called; if he prefers to be called Mr. ABC, then that is what kids should be taught to call him. My kids call their teachers by their first names, their ped Dr. ABC, and my colleagues at work Mr., Mrs., or Ms. ABC--all according to what the adult prefers.[/quote]

No, actually, I don't. And as I have politely explained to some of my 40+ but-wish-they-were-still'25-year-old-friends, we are teaching our kids to respect adults. It's not about what the adult "wants."[/quote]

The children do respect their teachers. My child and her AP French class had an extremely tough French teacher who assigned a lot of work and really challenged them. At the end of the year, thanked her for preparing them ALL to do well on the AP exam. These teens appreciate their teachers in a mature way that  shows respect, unlike a lot of students that may feel the teacher is out to get them if they pile on work. You cannot pass judgement if you have not experienced it just because the old way is the right way in your mind. [/quote]

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