What do students call you?
As a new instructor, I find it hard getting used to being called by my last name. Sometimes, it just doesn't even register when I hear it. I'd prefer if they called me Ms. Annie (my first name) but is that professional enough? Is it overly friendly? Most other instructors at my campus use their last names or the first initial of their last name but there are a few who use their first names. Please share which way you prefer to be called and why.
John,
I agree with you on this. In today's informal culture the formality of addressing a person by their professional title is sometimes forgotten. We need to set the standard for this as we are the instructor and they are the students, we are not their buddies nor can we ever be.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
John,
All professional ways to be addressed. This also sets the standard for the students understanding you are the professor and they are the students and that there is a separation between the two which must be maintained.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Students call me Professor Billingsley, Mr. Billingsley, Dr. Billingsley or Mr. B, Professor B, or Dr. B.
Providing the student with the correct and often-time appropriate title to address an instructor inside and outside of the class room prepares the student with needed tools to communicate social and professional etiquette. "Hey Man", "Yo" is not an appropriate way to address or communicate with an instructor nor your immediate supervisor.
Correct titles certainly sets the tone between subordinate and superiors. It demonstrates courtesy and expressed decorum. It recognizes the authority figure and how to address him/her.
Students should be prepared to accept the fact that Professors, Doctors or Mr/Ms. is the appropriate way to address their instructor.
I work in a culinary school and every instructor in the school is addressed as "chef" so I require all students to answer any question I pose with "chef" and preferably by the first name following. I explain to the students on the first day that the title chef is an honorary title spelled with a lower case c and you are not a chef until you are called chef.
Hi Elizabeth,
I support your selection of what you want to be addressed as in the classroom and lab setting. This title establishes you as the professional educator and leader in the classroom. This will go a long way as you develop rapport with your students and earn their respect. It will also help you with being a model for them as they progress through the course.
Gary
I am a new instructor but am not a professor. I have always felt that an instructor has worked hard to earn this position and deserves some professional respect. Therefore, I will ask my students to call me Miss Silverthorn or Ms. Silverthorn. I feel that allowing them to call me by my first name I am somehow reducing my authority and bringing the relationship between teacher and student to a more personal level, which I feel is not appropriate.
Hi Donald,
Good comments about how you can set a professional tone for your classes where mutual respect is shown between the instructor and students.
Gary
I am in total agreement with you Wilfred, as my last name sometimes becomes a tongue twister for students. I am comfotable with Mr. "S" or Mr. Don, and I have yet to have anyone drop the "Mr.", even the younger students. By allowing a a relaxed version of the formal Mr. title, it helps to improve the atmosphere for absorbing information, which, after all, is what we, as instructors want our students to do...be sponges!
I address them as Mr., or Ms, or, in some cases, Mrs., and they respond very well to the mutual respect being shown.
Treat others as you wish to be treated.
I do not allow my students to adress me by my firt name.I feel that would take away from the instuctor student relationship.However I do accept Mr M if they cannot prnounce my last name. I teach electrical courses,so some students call me Dr Ohm .By the way I like being called Dr Ohm.It is A way of my students showing respect for my knowalge.So I guess what I am tring to say.Is that as long as you maintain A student istructor relationship.If they come up with pet names that mantain the istructor student relationship it is OK
I agree; there is a time/place for certain relationships. An adult/adult with a teacher/student demeanor seems to work best and avoids any expectations of being a "pal."
I also use this approach, i.e., when several hands are up to answer a question on the floor or make a comment, I point at them with "and you sir" or "yes ma'am". It appears to contribute to creating an environment of maturity and responsibility for the interactions among us. Mind you I encourage humor/laughter but never at the expense of an individual or their contribution. Every response is treated with respect and a "thank you, sir/ma'am."
HI Robert,
we may be from the same generation or not. But I also use the same techniques you described. After they complete the program and secure their license to practice, then we are "colleagues" and I will call them by their 1st name and encourage the same in response.
Hi Annie, I have been teaching now for several years and at one school I was called by my first name, as it was embroidered on my shirt. The school I am with now encourages professionalism to the highest standard and all the Instructors Id badges start with Mr. or Mrs. and then their last name. I address my students in the same fashion and refer to them as Mr. or Ms. and then their last name even when I call roll. They intern call me either Mr. Kincannon or Mr. K (if they have trouble pronouncing my name). I try to instill a professional aspect to what our students are going to be faced with when they hit the work force. After all I truly believe that I am training my field replacements and they not only represent our school but me as well.
I refer to my students as Mr. or Ms. In doing
so, I noticed that when they speak to me that
there is usually a Mr. in front of my last name.
I simply tell my student the first day of class
to treat others as they wish to be treated.
I also agree. I address all my student techs as Mr., or Ms. I do not like being called by my last name only. Reminds me of the playground. When I am called by my last name only I respond, don't forget my first mane. It is mister. On the first day of class I always say to the class I respond to Mr. Nerad.
Not hey teach, or dude.
I hear what you are saying, and when I first encountered this, I too, thought the same thing, that it was bad manners, or lack of respect, but even 'tho I am almost 50, I have a very good sense of humour, and an excellent rapport with my students, as I have not forgotten what it's like to be 20 something. (I still am, I just can't stop this body from getting older!) I think this might be more a sense of perspective, as the younger men and women don't take "Hey MInnARD!" as disrespectful, but actually, this is their way of showing respect and gratitude. At least this is how it looks in my world! Chuck!
Hi Maria,
You make a very good point about your professional position as a teacher. By being called by your last name you are creating an understanding on the part of the students that you are the instructor and that you will work hard to earn their respect and in return they will address you professionally.
Gary
I prefer to be called by my last name. I find being called by my first name very candid and familiar and I am not sure that I would want that kind of a relationship with my students.
