Teacher Question?

Question

If I wanted to become an 8th grade teacher when I grow up----
Would I be allowed to have the kids call me by my 1st name? Just to be different.....

Like just call me "Ashley"??

Do schools allow that??

Answer 1

I am sure that they do, however, children need to learn about respect of others and especially their teachers. I am very sure your opinion will change as you grow up. But may God bless you for even wanting to be a teacher!!! I do believe it takes special people to be teachers. I do wish you well!!!

Answer 2

No, I taught for over thirty years and I was never in a school where the students called the teacher by their first name. A teacher needs to be shown respect. It would not be appropriate or respectful to call a teacher by their first name. We did have a teacher one year that had a very difficult name to pronounce so the students called him Mr. G. As you get older you will realize that this would not be a good thing plus the school system would not allow it. At my school, the teachers could not even call each other by their first names in front of the students. Good luck and follow your dream to become an 8th grade teacher. We need great Middle School teachers and I wish you the best.

Answer 3

Whether or not schools allow that, I am not sure, you would have to ask. If you are talking about the future, then it is very possible that things will change then, and maybe calling teachers by Mr. and Mrs. would be considered really old fashioned... it could go either way. Personally, i think that it would be really weird calling a teacher by their first name... it just doesn't seem right. But things might change by the time you grow up - you never know.

Answer 4

I think it depends on the school and the atmosphere. I know at my high school some kids call their coach by "Coach first name." I think you would have to let them use "miss" with your first name.... your first year teaching this could present a problem. You will want/need to distinguish yourself from them. If you don't, they will see you as a friend and not an authority figure. This may sound exciting, but the first time you have to use your authority it will blow up...they will see you as a peer ....you have to be careful. I've worked in schools where I called all of teh other teachers "Mrs. Smith" and the principals I addressed the same way. At my last school I called the principal by her first name. You kinda have to feel out the school and you need to fit in, especially in your early years. :) good luck.

Answer 5

It is not encouraged. I am a newly certified teacher, and while I have heard of high school teachers letting their students call them by first name only, I do not personally know any colleagues who allow this. I guess it is a personal choice. But let me tell you why it is better to have students call you by last name.

Teachers are professionals, and we pride ourselves on being treated that way. Would you walk into your doctor's office and call him "Chuck", instead of "Dr. Johnson," for example? Probably not. And you would never refer to a judge as "Rick", would you? Calling people by the proper title : Mr./Mrs./Ms. is a sign of respect and professional courtesy.

You also might want to consider the parents of your students. What if their kids came home one day calling them by their first names, instead of mom and dad? Or, calling their adult neighbors by their first names? Believe it or not, students learn best by modeling and examples from us. We not only teach them school subjects, we also teach students how to socialize with mature adults. At age 13-14, as most students in 8th grade are, keeping that professional distance gives you much more control over the classroom. You can still be personable toward your students without being too 'personal' by letting them call you by first name. Just be yourself, and your kindhearted personality will shine through, without losing the professionalism.

Good question!

Answer 6

I don't know if they allow it or not, but I think it would be a poor idea.

Part of the reason for addressing a teacher or professor by their last name is because it is a sign of respect, not only for someone who is older, but for someone who is wiser and has authority of you at that time (in the classroom).

Have students call you by your first name would destroy that respectful relationship. You would also find that they would not really listen to you or take you seriously.

Answer 7

Like the others have said, it really does depend on the school in which you work. I would actually prefer my students to call me by my first name, but at my school it's not allowed. I understand the reasons why it is frowned upon, though. Like the others have said, it is about teaching them respect.

Answer 8

It really depends on the school where you'd be working. However, anywhere I worked it was frowned upon. The students need to show a certain amt. of respect for their teachers. You are there to teach them. One of the easiest ways to teach them to show respect is by having them address you as Miss, Mrs.,Ms., or Mr.Believe me, they will come up with their own names for you. If they like you, you'll know & if they don't , you'll know that too. Just think of it as a title in your job.

Answer 9

Depends on the school. In some schools, that is common. In others, it is frowned upon.

Why is this important to you? If the topic interests you, maybe ask some of your teachers about it and get their opinions and the reasons behind their opinions.

Answer 10

I teach college courses and I say NO first names! You need to maintain your professional status and having students call you by your first name makes you more of an equal. You want to appear friendly and caring without becoming their best friend.