What's in a Name?

The other day I was invited by my host school to meet the principal, teachers, staff and kids, and to familiarise myself with the grounds prior to my upcoming placement.

During my visit, my mentor teacher and principal took me into the R-3 classroom where I would be spending my time on prac and explained to the children that I was going to be visiting soon.

The introduction - “Class, this is…. Er…” (whispers) “…what would you like to be called?”

Right at that very moment, I was completely thrown off guard - considering that I’ve a way to go yet before becoming a teacher myself, I’d never not given any thought to my preferred title - and here I was, with a class full of children awaiting my reply!

So, without having time to really think about it, I said to the kids with a smile “You can call me Laura”.

I don’t have any other reason for blurting out my response other than it just felt right. Back when I was at school, as a student it would have been utterly taboo to call any teacher by their first name – it was a mark of respect and authority. But school was a long time ago, and now, as a future teacher, there’s something about being called by my first name that I like the idea of, and, to be honest, I’m still not yet entirely sure why.

According to an online poll titled ‘Should students be allowed to call their teachers by their first name?’ (http://www.debate.org/opinions/should-students-be-allowed-to-call-their-teachers-by-their-first-name) the results were split 50% each way.

It appears that those who voted against against teacher first-name use were primarily concerned the authority, status and power that honorifics imply:

“Using an honorific such as Mr, Ms, or Dr, denotes recognition and respect of the individual’s higher status…”

“They should definitely not… students should know who’s in charge”.

“Only adults should be allowed to call other adults by their first name…”

While others, in support of the notion of a first name basis argued -

“It makes education feel more like a mutual conversation with both sides of the party learning from each other”

“Teaching isn’t the sit and listen type of idea it was in the past… the entire school system has become far more relaxed…”

“It (calling a teacher by their first name) could actually help a student identify and befriend a teacher, seeing them as another person as opposed to an oppressive authority figure…”

Personally, I find myself relating more to the arguments of those in favour of first-name use, and I believe it has everything to do with my own personal philosophy and idea of the type of teacher I'd like to be.

I'd like to believe that one day, when I have a class of my own, I can work alongside my students, guiding, challenging, supporting and learning with them as they travel their own individual learning journeys. I'd like to feel that they can approach me with any question and not fear judgement. I'd like to think that I can earn, and maintain, the respect of my students, regardless of my title.

The topic of teacher honorifics is also explored in the blog “Teaching the Teacher” (http://traintheteacher.wordpress.com). In it, the author shares her own personal account of how she transformed her viewpoint from initially not supporting the idea of being known by her first name, to giving it a try and not only enjoying it, but also experiencing improved student relationships as a result. You can find them here:

“Should students call teachers by their first names?” (http://traintheteacher.wordpress.com/2011/04/27/should-students-call-teachers-by-their-first-names/), and
“My students call me by my first name and I kind of like it” (http://traintheteacher.wordpress.com/2011/08/22/my-students-call-me-by-my-first-name-and-i-kind-of-like-it/)

Whatever your position on teacher honorifics, I believe individual school and class contexts are the number one deciding factor as to whether using your first name could be a positive move or not. No two schools, classrooms, students or teachers are the same, and at the end of the day, I believe what's most important is not what your students call you, but the way you make them feel :-)