Taught school. I cannot imagine having the kids use my first name. It's the same as dressing appropriately. If your are dressed better, you behave better.

Used to be at a first name only school--for everyone. Hated it. I don't think kids should call teachers and parents my their first names.

My child's school uses only first names for teachers, and I am so glad. This is a community, why all the competition in what titles should be used. Call everyone by their first names and get on to bigger issues, such as teaching.

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.

Anonymous wrote:Mr, Ms, Mrs, keeps it professional regardless of age.

+1

You address friends by their first names. Teachers are not your friends and should not be treated as such. Keep the relationship professional by addressing him/her as'mr., mrs., miss' etc

What if you are "Miss Larla" to the students?

Mr, Ms, Mrs, keeps it professional regardless of age.

I'm a teacher. My name is Melissa. Please feel free to call me Melissa. I'll answer to that or Ms. Blah. I'm happy to call you whatever you want to be called.

I always use the address my kid is expected to use. I don't think I even KNEW my own elementary school teachers' first names, even though a bunch of them played bridge with my parents (small town, late 70s). Parents were very careful to cultivate respect for teachers, and it was only after leaving home that I learned what my folks really thought of some of them.

Anonymous wrote:Just for starters, I would not use first name until you know her better. You never know how someone feels. She can always tell you to call her by her first name.

Agree. Also, parents often use last name because that is what the students use.

Just for starters, I would not use first name until you know her better. You never know how someone feels. She can always tell you to call her by her first name.

School principal here. I don't mind at all. In fact, I always introduce myself to a parent with just my first name. My hope is that it puts people at ease.

As a teacher, I didn't mind. I think you need to take age into account. When I was in my 20's, I would have felt you were not respecting my position if you called me by my first name. The older I get, the more confident I am and things like that don't matter.

I don't mind too much but I would hate for your child to call me by my first name and I hear they do that at some schools.

FWIW, I expect you to call me by my first name.