Are you on a first name basis with your child's teacher?

Question

Of course you would call her "Mrs. Smith" in front of the kids, but what about outside of class?

That's the confusing part! We are in touch on a fairly regular basis. Sometimes she signs her correspondence with her first name, sometimes Mrs. Smith. She is younger than me (AGhhh!) So maybe she's not sure either. I guess I need to come out and ask...

Answer 1

Not unless she invites me to.

Answer 2

I am on a first name basis with all of the teachers at the school since I work there and they are my co-workers. Before I started working there, I called them by Mr. Mrs. unless I knew them outside of school. I went to school with a couple of teachers. Some of the teachers are parents of my children's friends. But then again, I still feel funny calling some of the teachers (that I had when I was little) by their first name. I still refer to them as Mr and Mrs. Old habits die hard. Also I think it is disrespectful in some ways.

Answer 3

I would continue calling the teacher Mr. or Mrs. until invited to do otherwise. You do not want to not show the respect that is deserved by being a teacher. After all, are you on a first name basis with your Dr.? your dentist? A teacher is still a professional.

Answer 4

I am not on a first name basis with any of my children's teachers. I am becoming friends with one of the math teachers because our boys are both in cub scouts, but I still call her Mrs.

Next year it may be more of an issue, because a friend from church teaches 5th grade math, so I will probably call her by her first name when the kids are not around. I call their Sunday School teachers, and AWANA leaders by their first names when I address them at church.

Answer 5

Of course. All our teachers are called by their first names by the parents. I save last names for Doctors

Answer 6

Which one..there are 9 of them.....3 kids in school. I can barely remember all of the last names yet. I'm on first name with 2 of them. The other 7..not yet. But the school year is young... :)

Answer 7

What does she call you? If she calls you by your first name, then I don't see why you can't call her by her first name as well. As a younger teacher, I like the idea of being on a first name basis with my students' parents. It helps me feel like we're on more of the same level, and I like the idea of befriending the entire family and keeping up with their lives after their children have left my class. :)

Answer 8

I always use the last name. I do however sign my letters,notes to teacher with my first and last name. You are still in a professional world in a teaching atmosphere....even though you are close to teachers. Use the last name.

Answer 9

You should always call her Mrs. Smith, even outside of class or when your child isn't around - unless you are in a social situation or something, where she may say "Call me Linda".

Answer 10

No , I'm not. They have never encouraged it and I have never felt the need to call them anything other than Mr. or Mrs. or Miss Whatever.

Answer 11

Some of them I have been, but that is because I know them personally outside of school, some of them are parents of my kids friends and a few are parents of the friends that I had in school. It all just depends on the situation.