Should teachers allow students to call them by their first names?

[YES]

I have toyed with the idea of allowing my students to call me by my first name for several years now. People in most workplaces call each other by their first names. 

In fact, high school students who work at a restaurant or a hardware store call their bosses by their first names. It’s only in education that we maintain this sort of fake, out-dated practice.

Currently, I introduce myself to students in September with my full name. Students choose to call me “Mr. White” because that’s the only way they have ever known to address a teacher.

However, I have heard students refer to me outside the classroom as “My teacher, Brian White.” One time, a student referred to her “favorite teacher” as “Brian White” in a newspaper interview. I am happy that my students see me as a person with whom they have a working relationship, and are comfortable using my first name along with my last name.

I tell seniors that after they graduate, they are no longer allowed to call me “Mr. White.” I tell them “Mr. White” is my dad, and I prefer “Brian.” They appreciate the gesture.

I introduce myself to parents with my full name as well. I don’t want to put up a pretentious wall between me and a parent.

Parents are receptive to using my first name, and I think this has opened up outstanding parental communication.

Perhaps a new, 22-year-old teacher, especially a female, should not have students use her first name. She may have enough difficulty establishing a professional relationship as it is. 

I believe it should be up to individual teachers.

In my case, the main reason I don’t encourage students to use my first name is that some of my colleagues would hate the idea. They would think I was trying to become “friends” with my students instead of maintaining a professional working relationship.

That would be an unfair assessment. I work very hard to maintain the line of professionalism between me and my students. 

But I don’t believe using a title and a last name generates respect.

Teachers who earn their students’ respect can do so without regard to names.

Brian White teaches chemistry and physics in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Cast Your Vote

[NO]

I do not think it is appropriate for students in grades 1–12 to call teachers by their first name. It’s okay for three- and four-year-olds in preschool. Three-year-olds are practically babies. It is acceptable for them to say “Miss Lisa” as opposed to “Miss Jankowski.” They may not be able to pronounce what could be a three- or four-syllable last name. But even a three-year-old can say “Miss.”

In elementary, middle, and especially high school, students should be obligated to address teachers, administrators, and adult visitors by Mr./Mrs./Miss. It shows respect and an imaginary line that should not be crossed. I am 24 years old and supervise two 18-year-old high school senior interns in my classroom. Though I may be close in age to them and friendly with them, I am their teacher first.

They address me as “Mrs. Merrill.” 

I had a teacher in high school we called “George.” Yes, George was the fun and free-spirited teacher, who is sadly missed, but looking back, I do not think George received the respect he deserved. He did not demand respect and therefore he got very little. Kids are kids. They knew they could walk all over him, so they were loud and obnoxious in class.

On the other hand, “Mr. Canton” was and still is a respected teacher.  We didn’t dare address him as “Tom.”

We learned more from Mr. Canton than we did from George. We did our homework and we didn't fool around in class. His clothes, his whole presence in the school demanded respect. But did the name have anything to do with this? Of course it did.

Whatever happened to addressing your friend’s mother as “Mrs. Davis”? Nowadays it’s just “Janet.”  What about old “Miss Miller” down at the pharmacy? Now it’s just “Betty.”

Respect for elders needs to be brought back into the lives of youngsters. If they don’t learn it when they’re little, they won’t have it when they grow up, and that can translate into disrespect for police, government, laws, and bosses when they go to work.

A little respect never hurt anyone, especially in this day and age.

Kelly Merrill is a seventh-grade special education teacher in Millbury, Massachusetts.

Cast Your Vote

Voting Results

Should we reward good grades with money and prizes?

The tally on the question in the May issue of NEA Today:

No, 55%

Yes, 45%