Do you call your child's public school teacher by his or her first name? I feel like I can/should, as she signs her emails to parents as FirstName LastName.
But there's part of me that feels really strange doing that. I don't know if it's because I call her Mrs. LastName around DD1 (so, most of the time I'm ever speaking of the woman) or because my inner elementary school student knows the dire consequence of referring to a teacher by her first name.
I called all the daycare teachers by their first name, but it was different, as even the children called them Ms. or Mr. FirstName.
So, please tell me I'm not being a disrespectful. If you're a teacher, does it weird you out if parents call you Ms./Mrs./Mr. LastName?
My child is in private school but I call her teachers Ms./Mr. Last name. I can't even think of first name at the moment. I work in public schools and generally address teachers the same way. It's easier that way for me because I don't have to switch up what I say in front of students.
DS1’s teacher signs her emails with just her first name, but I still call her Mrs. LastName. I’m going to do it when DS1 is around or when I’m in the classroom anyway, so it’s easier to be consistent.
A good friend is a teacher at our school, and when we’re at any school function, I call her Mrs. LastName. It feels weird, but it’s also setting an example for the kids, as that is how she is addressed at school.
Post by goldengirlz on Sept 10, 2019 21:56:40 GMT -5
I notice the other parents at our school just use teachers’ first names. I use Ms. First Name (which is what DD calls her) if DD is in earshot (and usually even if she isn’t!) If in doubt, I would follow your child’s example. I suspect this is highly #regional too.
I've volunteered at our elementary an awful lot for the past 7 years, so there are several teachers I know on a personal level (I even carpool with a few- LOL) and we are on a first name basis. I do my best to refer to all teachers as Ms. or Mr. Last Name in settings where students are present, though. And most of them refer to me as Ms. Lastname in those situations, too. I go by Ms. Firstname in the preschool class I volunteer in regularly, though- it's easier for the little ones to say- so everyone at that school (not one of my kids' school) calls me that.
I notice the other parents at our school just use teachers’ first names. I use Ms. First Name (which is what DD calls her) if DD is in earshot (and usually even if she isn’t!) If in doubt, I would follow your child’s example. I suspect this is highly #regional too.
In front of my daughter, I always say Mrs. LastName, but this is for an email, thus the doubt.
I used Mrs. LastName in my first couple notes, and then I was cc'd on a note from another mom who addressed the teacher by FirstName, and I began wondering if I'm a weirdo!
But I'm still going with Mrs. LastName in this email. And I'm not emailing a ton, I promise. She;s reached out with questions, so I need to answer.
Post by Leeham Rimes on Sept 10, 2019 22:10:01 GMT -5
Always Ms/Mrs/Mr last name, emails/in person.
I volunteer quite a bit in the school and am familiar with my kids’ teachers bc of that, but nobody has ever said “call me Jane/Jim”. even the front desk staff, i only know their first names but I still call them Miss First Name.
And I’m infinitely older than every single one of their teachers, lol.
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I’ve known my daughter’s kindergarten teacher for years, though we aren’t super close. We used to work together briefly. She asks the students to call her Ms. Firstname so I plan to call her that in earshot of DD and just Firstname when speaking to her or emailing her. I kind of wish she’d use Ms. Lastname honestly though...it seems strangely informal for the kids to use her first name!
I teach elementary and I far prefer when the parents call me by my first name. It’s a pretty small school, I’ve been there for 10 years, and it’s in my neighbourhood (so younger sibs sometimes have activities with my daughter), and I feel really weird having another adult refer to me as Ms XYZ. My school is fairly friendly and casual, though, so that plays into it for me. I have some former students who are kids of friends or friends of friends, and they don’t call me by my last name anymore either.
This is my 5th year teaching and I’ve noticed it catches my attention when I hear my first name by anyone when I’m at work. Most people at work call me just by my last name, no prefix, which is also how I answer my phone- “this is last name”
I call all my coworkers, even those I’m friends with by their last names. I just can’t do their first names for some reason.
I had an internship this summer at a normal business and it was seriously strange when my coworkers would say my first name. Probably because I’m last name at work and I have a nickname in my personal life so literally no one is out there addressing me by my real name on the daily so it always throws me for a loop when people say my whole first name.
Post by killercupcake on Sept 10, 2019 23:07:02 GMT -5
I have parents address me by my first name pretty often, but most of the time I get “Mrs. [lastname].” Parents who address me by my first name are typically pretty close, I guess. We’ve worked together a lot over the course of their kid’s time in high school.
What’s weird for me is meeting up with people who were MY teachers who are now colleagues. What do I call them? Lol I’m mostly kidding though and am now drinking buddies with my 10th grade English teacher.
I have a signature that applies to every email I send so they all go out with “first name last name” and titles because I’m also emailing colleagues too. Maybe I’m sensitive to it because I started out as a very young teacher but often parents who address me by my first name are pushing boundaries in other ways too and are using my name as another boundary to push. Among the other staff on site we mainly use last names. Like pp, that’s how I answer the phone, how the admin team addresses me, etc.
I have parents address me by my first name pretty often, but most of the time I get “Mrs. [lastname].” Parents who address me by my first name are typically pretty close, I guess. We’ve worked together a lot over the course of their kid’s time in high school.
What’s weird for me is meeting up with people who were MY teachers who are now colleagues. What do I call them? Lol I’m mostly kidding though and am now drinking buddies with my 10th grade English teacher.
[OMG yes! The former teacher thing throws me for a loop. I still get all nervous, assume I’m in trouble, and try to please them all in the same breath.
Post by W.T.Faulkner on Sept 11, 2019 5:23:45 GMT -5
The practice at my school is calling teachers by Mr. or Ms. First Name. When I hear my last name I know someone is just trying to give me their cover letter. lol This solves the problem for everyone.
My husband was on the board of the PTA and did a ton of work directly with the principal on some targeted issues. When he introduced me to her he used her first name and I was SCANDALIZED. I was like "what is wrong with you! Her name is Principal Lastname!" He laughed at me she so did she, but I've still never used her first name. Knowing me and my predilection for cursing, I'd be more likely to drop an F bomb in front of her then use her first name.
I have a signature that applies to every email I send so they all go out with “first name last name” and titles because I’m also emailing colleagues too. Maybe I’m sensitive to it because I started out as a very young teacher but often parents who address me by my first name are pushing boundaries in other ways too and are using my name as another boundary to push. Among the other staff on site we mainly use last names. Like pp, that’s how I answer the phone, how the admin team addresses me, etc.
I didn’t consider this at all. In front of the kids I use Ms. Whatever. But emailing to Ms. So and So feels so bizarre- that’ts not even how I address clients at work in email.
as a side note, my mom is now dear, dear friends with 2 of my childhood teachers. I see them often as they are regularly visiting my mother. I still refer to them as Mrs.xxx because I cannot get out of the habit!