i have an teacher at my university who is a graduate student teaching in the english dept. this person has stated that we should call her "professor ----, or ms. ------ just not [by her first name]". i have noticed other students have titled her as professor on their papers, and today while using an example she said "..just because i am professor and you are students....." [just making an example for a discussion in class]. i do not think she should be passing herself off as a professor, just looking for other opinions, and wondering if i should say something?
2007-02-12 04:51:35 · 5 answers · asked by vadawa13 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
If she is teaching your class, she IS a professor. I worked as an adjunct after getting my BA, and I was a professor by title. I work as a grad TA now. I have my students call my by my first name, but I could claim the title of professor if I wished.
2007-02-12 05:43:31 · answer #1 · answered by eri 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a graduate student teaching a class, there's no way to tell what this person's credentials are. She could have plenty of papers published(which is usually a requirement for most teaching jobs in an university), she could have years of teaching experience, she could almost be done with school, she could have already been promised a job at the university when she finalizes her degree, she could be doing all of the teaching for the true professor, etc... There are so many things it could be and if she is the one who teaches you every class then you should respect her as she is your professor. She is the authority of you and thus can ask for the respect of being called whatever she wants to be called. Some professors with amazing credentials may want to be called by their first name, is there something wrond with that? I think you should put your personal feelings aside, respect her wishes, and concentrate on your school work. Anybody put in charge of a university class does deserve more respect than your seeming to give.
2007-02-12 13:30:44 · answer #2 · answered by Phat Kidd 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Commonly a professor is a person who is listed as an associate/ or full professor by the institution. Graduate students who are in teaching positions have not earned this distinction, they should be treated with the defference due to any teacher however. Someone who insists on being addressed by a title they have not achieved leads me to suspect that they have some unresolved issues in the self esteem area, I tend to give people like this a wide berth.
2007-02-12 13:15:17 · answer #3 · answered by Richard P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She is in the position of "Professor", so I don't see the problem. Professor is a title of position, not a level of Education like Doctor.
A PHD is a Doctorate, an MBA can teach college classes and be called professor.
Why are you so sensitive to this issue?
2007-02-12 13:03:06 · answer #4 · answered by yes_its_me 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
there's nothing wrong with pretending to be a professor. you're just pretending to care because it takes publicity away from the fact that you're a terrible teacher
2007-02-12 13:00:21 · answer #5 · answered by Jennifer S 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋