Avoiding using students first names?
What are everyone's thoughts on establishing the use of honorifics and last names in addressing students?
... and having them always address you as "Mr." or "Ms."?
Carl
Paul,
That's an important distinction. If you are able to make that analogy for their work life, that's also an important lesson.
Susan Backofen
I agree that using first name,s may imply that you are thier friend. You should always be friendly but never a friend.
I agree, I always use Mr. or Mrs. It just more professional in my opinion.
I have had students who have asked what my first name is and I jokingly reply "MISTER"
You can be friendly without becoming a "buddy" If you call Mr o Miss and the last name your students doesn't mean that your putting a barrier between you and them. In the classroom, it is very important to keep a professional behavior and to show respect for your students as you deserve it as well. And keeping that treatment seems to be a very good approach.
keeps the Professional level high and not personal. I am not one who gets personal at the instructor/student level.Now as for the students addressing me, by first name, Mr. or even by just my last name is ok with me, in this instance, whatever works and is comfortable for the student is ok with me, just as long as the tone that is associated with my reference is respectful.
Charles--
This practice certainly sets up a professional and respectful environment and prepares them for the workplace.
Susan
We are all expected to call all our students by Mr. and Mrs. with their last names. The staff is also to be addressed by Mr. and Mrs. I feel this is a respectable approch to make the students feel like adults.
I believe that the first name should not be used, I don't want the students calling me by my first name and by usingMr. or Mrs. it is more professional and that is what we want to be when they leave, leave the first name for buddies.
I think its a good idea to adress them as "Mr" or "Miss". It may seem a bit formal but to me it's a sign of respect. I dont mind being acessable but Ive found using first names makes me more of a friend than a mentor.
I like the idea. If a student really does not like it then I call them by their first name. I think it shows respect.
With all the different cultures and name formatts, I find using the the sir name works well and I have noticed that the professionalism if the class follows the same path.
I try to be a bit more flexible in this regard. If I am adressing a student as part of the class, for instance, posing a question, I will use Mr./Ms. If the setting is more intimate, like a one on one setting I will use their first name. Finally, If they pose a question to me, I will always use Yes Sir? or Yes Maam?. Probably my military background kicking in, but it usually genders a like response. I.E. I ask to be addressed as Mr. D or Mr. Dunlap and very rarely do I hear anything else.
Darrell--
Excellent advice all the way around. It is a fine line sometimes between being approachable and being too much of a 'buddy'.
Susan
I always address my students by Mr. or Ms. To me keeps the Professional level high and not personal. I am not one who gets personal at the instructor/student level.
Our company's policy does not allow for instructor/student fratinization(sp). So by addressing my students as Mr. or Ms., I keep the Instructor/Student interaction on a Professional and adult level.
Now as for the students addressing me, by first name, Mr. or even by just my last name is ok with me, in this instance, whatever works and is comfortable for the student is ok with me, just as long as the tone that is associated with my reference is respectful.
Should a student disrespect me, then I will tell them that it is Mr. so and so to you, so as to reenforce my position within the classroom/lab enviroment.
I do not want to encourage the student to become "to comfortable" and make an assumption that this could become a "buddy buddy" type of situation.
I always want to keep things on the up and up.
I think that one of the main objectives is to make the students feel more comfortable on day one. I do not think that most students would expect to be called by Mr. or Ms. or Mrs. I think in any typical classroom protocol it is usual for the teacher to be addressed by Mr., Ms., or Mrs and last name but not the student.
We had a teacher here at our campus that always addressed the students by their last name and many of them felt that he did it as a way to keep from getting to know them. Many thought it was very quirky and odd.
Calling students by their first name seems to make them more at ease
I approach this a little differently. On the first day of class I announce/introduce myself to the class. I mention how I want to be addressed. I then allow each student to introduce themselves (generally my classes are less than 20 people so this is highly manageable). This allows students to inform me of what they expect to learn from me, why they are in my course, and how they want to be addressed as well. I look at my students as people who turn are here to learn from me. However I enjoy the reciprocal relationship in which I learn from them as well. It creates a community in my course.
I use them depending on the student. Younger students sometimes like being called Mr. or Ms... But older students sometimes don't lie it. I've been told it makes them feel old.
I generally use the same routine. I agree that Mr. or Miss. is the proper way although recently I have used first names in an effort to be more informal. Using first names is rare here but I think it puts the Student and Instructor into a closer working relationship. It may be a double standard but I have them address me as Mr. I have asked what they prefer and the answer is usually indifferent one way or another.
