Do you call your teachers by their 1st names?

[noyesno]

We do.

A nurse at clinical thought this was very strange and would not refer to my teacher by her first name.

What do you call your teachers?

[CuriousMe]

Except the opposite of polite isn't casual. You can be polite and casual. Just as you can be formal and rude. So, I can use titles and honorifics and act rudely. Just as I can show respect to every colleague I work with from physicians, to housekeeping to physical therapists, and never use a title.

Additionally, titles may confer order on an organization, but they also infer a hierarchical system. The days you're referring to fondly are also the days where it wasn't unusual for an RN had to give up her chair for any physician.

Maybe, loosing this simple bit of formality, is part of the crux of the downfall of the US society as a whole. Look at countries that are surpassing the US, what do they do differently? What I can see is, they have the gentile politeness we've opted for casual. They wear for men, suit and tie, women, conservative business attire, we wear whatever. It's all about image, and how we refer to people, if even the lowest staff on the totem pole were to be refered to with a title, it makes a big difference in the morale, makes everyone feel important rather than "just..." What if we were to turn the clock back, and go back to a more formal time? They say history repeats itself, so rather than repeating the ills of history, why can't we make a consious effort to repeat history that was possitive? Why not make things, even the simplest of things, a special or formal occasion?

I can remember as a child, I was raised in an average home, Father was a blue collar worker, a forman at a gravel pit, Mother self employed as a cosmotologist, yet, we did things that are unheard of today, we "dressed" for diner, And the table was set formal, with the "good" china, and linen table cloth and napkins for the evening meal. It was the norm, for every day. I remember asking my parents why we had to be so formal, and was told that one never know's what the future holds and "...you may one day be invited to a high formal function..." What was done in the home was training for what we may encounter in later life.

Children were raised with manners, to keep silent till spoken to, and yes, we were still allowed to express ourselves, just weren't allowed to "but in" on conversations. Adult friends of the family were "Aunt" and "Uncle" and teachers, college professors, Dr's, Nurses, had title. Everyday social when speaking to folks, such as the grocery store clerk was "sir" or "ma'am" It's the little things that make a big difference. I know this is a bit off subject, but what environment we are raised in determines, for the most part, how we act in our professional life. And something as simple as refering to collegues and professors by title is a form of order, order makes for a smoother runing environment. By the same token, if we are to reform and call professors by their title, then students should be refered to by title as well, it's a two way street. And on that, when I was in college, I was refered to as "Miss M..." by my professors. And, back then, it was the norm that students refer to class mates as "Mr." or "Miss" and last name.

[ReinventingMyselfAgain, MSN, RN]

:)I'm on the side of CuriousMe. As a parent, I see the decline of manners and respect as a whole. While I don't feel the need for my child to answer me with a "yes m'am" or 'no m'am' (like they did on Little House on the Prairie), it sure is better than the way many of the kids today disprespect their elders. I know many may argue that we have allowed this, but I want to know when this happened.

I personally do not insist my child's friends call me Ms. ____ (I'm divorced, so definitely don't want to be referred to a Mrs. b/c i am not longer his wife:yeah:). I am fine with them calling me by my first name. Some still call me Mrs (probably as per thie parents rules). But when we are in Girl Scouts (I am the leader) they either call me Ms. Last name, or Ms. First name.

BTW, someone referred to the way some faculty speak to each other around students. When another professor calls me Ms. or Prof Last name in front of students, I try not to laugh, b/c that reminds me of elementay school. Back in the day, if one teacher called the other by their first name in front of us, we'd all stand there with our mouths open, like we have just heard some deep, dark secret. :) I really don't think we need to go that far... you guys are adults, and you all know we have first names!

[ReinventingMyselfAgain, MSN, RN]

We called ours "Professor"....even now after I've graduated and they tell us to call them by their 1st names it's hard to. Guess I'm just old school and see it as a sign of respect.

I have a Masters degree, and am a Professor myself. But if I ever ran into any of my old Professors (and while I was in my Masters program) I addressed them as Dr. or Professor. None of them ever said "call me (first name)".

On the flip side, I have kept in touch with many of my former students (and are friends with them on facebook). Some still call me Ms. in posts and e-mails, and one actually asked me if it was okay that she call me by my first name now

[Lillian2515]

If they call me by my first name, I do the same for them....unless they are obviously really stuffy about titles and INSIST on being called Dr., etc., .....then I submit and kiss a--....which is all that is about anyhow....egos....

titles mean nothing to me......I've known many titled people that don't deserve the "respect" they are insisting on....

[HyperSaurus, RN, BSN]

We call our professors by their first name unless otherwise requested. That's how they introduce themselves to us. I still think of some of them by their last name though.

[everlongRN]

unless they are obviously really stuffy about titles and INSIST on being called Dr., etc., .....then I submit and kiss a--....which is all that is about anyhow....egos....

titles mean nothing to me......I've known many titled people that don't deserve the "respect" they are insisting on....

Many people have very worked hard to earn their titles. Would you call a judge by their first name? A police officer (if dealing with them professionally)? I am a big fan of Top Chef and other cooking shows, where contestants wouldn't dare call the judges by their first names.

[Lillian2515]

I've been in court a few times and the judge has NEVER called me by my first name....NEVER. So going along with my first post.....I will address a person the way they address me. If they are on a first name basis with me...then, of course I would call them by their first name. In addition, I have never had a police officer call me by my first name either....you know...like with a traffic ticket? Cooking shows? are you kidding? .....no comparison....and you are way off the mark with your comments. WE are talking about how to address your "teachers."

[tfleuter, BSN, RN]

I find it interesting that some are bringing up the decline in manners and respect in "kids nowadays". Really, each generation has said this about the ones that have come after, this is not a new phenomenon. Not that I don't think this is or isn't true, just interesting that it always comes up when discussing such things.

There are many ways to show respect. I would find it disrespectful to call another person by a title if that person has already introduced themselves by their first name and asked to be called that. They have indicated how they, personally, want to be addressed. I called all my teachers throughout my primary education by Mr. or Mrs. or Ms. as did my fellow classmates. You can certainly be just as disrespectful in the way you address them when using a formal title as an informal one.

[tfleuter, BSN, RN]

Here is another anecdote from my past that may help put things in perspective for when students are out in the real world...

You know, manys of us nursing students are exactly the young, doe-eyed whipper snappers some may be visualizing in their heads, lol! For many of us, we are in the late 20 to 30's, 40's and beyond. Nursing is often a second career choice and many have already been exposed to the professional world of business, in whatever manner that maybe. I don't think it's a lack of "real world" that is the problem, it may even be that prior experience is what has made it so that many students today are comfortable with addressing their superiors on a first name basis. I also agree with CuriousMe, the culture of professialism has changed from years ago.

[Kaiviti]

we call our teachers by their surname.....it is more formal and appropriate. it also signifies respect...and it is more professional!!!