Please Miss
Stuff reports:
Tradition has gone out the classroom window as an increasing number of primary schools allow children to address teachers by their first names.
The move away from honorifics – reflected across other aspects of society too – has sparked debate among education experts. Teachers say it removes an unnecessary level of authority and encourages more curious and questioning students. Critics say it gives children more freedom than they are prepared for.
Wellington’s Mt Cook School principal Sandra McCallum said using Christian names changed the learning dynamic. Instead of passively accepting what they are told, children are not overawed by authority and are more questioning.
“The old adage that children are there to be seen and not heard – that has changed,” she said.
But Victoria University anthropologist James Urry argues that removing the age-based hierarchy is empowering kids before they are ready.
“The consequences of this usage in schools is a collapse of authority and a lack of respect which also extends beyond school. Children are empowered often without the social skills to handle their empowerment,” he said.
“There has to be discipline, there has to be authority or it’s Lord of the Flies.”
I have mixed views on this. When I was at school, teachers were always addressed with as Mr Jackson or Miss Petris etc. In the 7th form, a few teachers said call them Wayne when alone. It is interesting how hard habits die. If I meet a former teacher years later, I still automatically call them Mr Wilson, rather than Ken.
Having said that I personally don’t like being addressed with an honorific. If someone calls me Mr Farrar, I will usually retort that is my father, not me (actually he is Dr Farrar but you get the point). I spent around 13 years as a Cub/Scout/Venturer leader and always encouraged use of my christian name – this would sometimes cause problems at regional activities when they would be told off by other leaders for being disrespectful by calling me David.
This preferred use of my christian name policy was especially the case when I was a cub leader, as cub leaders often get names from the Jungle Book. I recall being with some mates in Courtenay Place McDonalds as a 22 year old, and running into a couple of the Cubs (aged 8 – 10) from Island Bay. Imagine my horror when they greeted me in front of all my mates as “Baloo”.
Anyway back to what to call teachers, I think it is a decision for what fits the culture best of each school. If I was a teacher (as I once considered) I would much prefer being called David than Mr Farrar. But if the other teachers at a school prefer honorifics, I would go with the flow.
December 4th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
I too have mixed views on this one.
At my son’s primary school all the children refer to their teachers, Principal etc as Mr/Mrs etc surname. The culture of the school is definitely about respecting adults as well as empowering children and creating/maintaining an appropriate learning environment. I like that the school ensures basic standards of communication like being polite, self management, etc.
I think that children addressing their teachers as Mr/Mrs ensures there is a relationship of hierarchy and respect and I see nothing wrong with that.
At ECE level my son’s teachers went by their first names. I actually think it was appropriate at this level because the need for nurturing was a little more necessary.
From my own schooling I remember calling all my primary level teachers by their surname, while at High School it was a mix. It’s interesting as the teachers who chose to be called by their first name seemed to have closer friendships with the students but less respect. I think those that went by their first names were more likely to be pulled into the private lives of their students than those who were Mr/Mrs. Totally anecdotal of course.
I have a different surname to my children so internally baulk a little when called Mrs B… Like, DPF I prefer to be called by my first name as well. I know very few of the surnames of my children’s friends so would find it difficult to tell my children to call their friends parents Mr or Mrs… I guess I’d have to learn them if we wanted our children to address adults that way.
December 4th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
You must have had a higher than average proportion of teachers called Wayne at your school David.
December 4th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
I think the main thing is that it’s up to the person themselves whether they are happy to people address them by their first name or not.
The idea of knowing someone “on a first name basis” indicates the basic reality that the use of one’s first name is a sign of a closer friendship than addressing with one’s last name. It is good to teachers and children to keep that level of distance so kids know they can’t get chummy with the teacher.
December 4th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
I think it has to be up to the individual teacher on this one. But the idea of using first names horrifies me. Respect and discipline and two of the biggest problems in modern schools, and using first names undermines both.
December 4th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
To hell in a handbasket, Sir.
December 4th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
since when have left wing teachers encouraged kids to ask more questions?
Wayne sounds creepy as hell too.
December 4th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Good Grief Havent these dimbulbs learnt anything from the failed experiment of the past 3 decades
fact is we have a generation of kids who have no respect no discipline no self control demand everything for nothing dont want to work for a living
And the soft cocks who have stood silent over this time including the last PM and her mates who were determined to wreck the traditional family unit are to blame.
Doesnt anyone realise why we have the highest teen suicide rate in the wrold the highest teen pregnancy rate in the world
No that dont get the connect between kids without boundaries and rules and the result.
Spare the rod and spoil the child has been the result and if you cant see this you are thick as 2 short planks
December 4th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
I don’t like the idea at all. This is one of those areas where I think we need to first focus on teaching children a basic repsect for authority – they will learn as they grow and mature, which people in authority to respect or not.
My children address our friends by first name basis. There is a definite distinction with a teacher. BTW have you heard kids at primary – morning and afternoon. A chorus of “Good Mor- ning Miss-es Jones”, doesn’t quite sound the same as “Good morning Jane” (nowhere near as cute either).
December 4th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
MIXED FEELINGS????
Good grief David, just another dumbing down for our kids.
Who cares about morals or ethics or responsibilities…. just let the little fuckers run wild and do as they like.
December 4th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
And from now on I will refer to you as Baloo, for some strange reason it suits
December 4th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
One school camps, I found that getting the kids to refer me to “Dr Evil” worked well to maintain authority.
On balance, the name you use may matter at the margin. But in my experience, some teachers had respect and authority- irrespective of what you called them- and some teachers had neither respect nor authority, and no name change would affect that.
December 4th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
They should have used your scout name David.
Frodo.
December 4th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
As long as the teacher can still command respect when needed, who cares?
Stepdaughter calls me by first name, not “stepdad” or anything like that. Seems to treat me with no more or less respect than “Mummy” or “Daddy” get.
A child’s respect is more about you, than your name.
December 4th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
I prefer to be addressed by my first name rather than Ms or Mrs by any one regardless of their age.
But do have reservations about this policy in schools, especially for primary children.
Teachers should be friendly but they’re not meant to be their pupils’ friends.
December 4th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
How about when Mr Coburn referred to you by your surname? I’m sure you cringed every time he would yell out “Farrrrrrar! play with your with plumbing, not mine!”
[DPF: Heh you have a good memory. He did yell at me a lot. His name was Cockburn incidentally, as I would sometimes use pronounce it as written
]
December 4th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
I do not have mixed views about this at all.
The neighbourhood kids are well aware that my name is Mr Bruv, if they call me by my first name I will ignore them.
My son has been raised to call all adults Mr or Mrs, only when they tell him it is OK to use their first name does that change.
Even in my middle age I cannot bring myself to call my parents neighbours anything other than Mr and Mrs.
It is all about respect.
December 4th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
I agree Bruv.
although i don’t like being called MR Dime.. i’m sure that will change when i have kids etc
December 4th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
One woodwork teacher, in the first class of the year, glowered at us all menacingly and then surprised us by saying we could call him by his Christian name.
There was a very long silence and then someone – OK, , Me – pipes up with the question ‘So, what’s your first name?’
Scowl from teacher, his eyes nail me to the floor.
‘Sir,’ he drawls.
December 4th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
s.russell 12:30 pm,
Absolutely!
This is more social engineering by the progressives. And the numbnuts that think it’s ok are just plain crackers.
Next some idiot will be encouraging kids to call their parents by their Christian names. And I know some parents already encourage this.
It wasn’t that long ago when people called their boss at work ‘Mr Smith’. I’m not saying we should go back to this, but the point is it was a sign of respect and authority. Kids need to respect ALL adults, and especially those in authority over them (parents and teachers).
Kids are not ‘little’ adults. And by encouraging them to call teachers/parents by their Christian names sends exactly this message; I’m a (little) adult, and therefore your equal, and you can’t tell me to do anything.
We are making a rod for our own back if we encourage this sort of behaviour in our kids.
December 4th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Both kids go to a Montessori based school (state funded & follows state Curriculum in a Montessori way) teachers are all referred to in a first name basis. It seems to work well (respect in both directions) but respect of others is one of the key value so students still know who’s boss. Can it cross over to main stream schools who knows, if there’s no respect (again both ways) it may be hard to manage.
December 4th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
The traditional practice has an unfortunate legacy. Look through a very old school magazine and in the class lists the girls are listed by christian and surnames, and boys by initials and surnames only. This lessens the usefulness of the lists with respect to boys.
Anyway many of the staff had nicknames. Several years ago a former Grammar teacher was in a Wellington hospice and upon his death, the doctor, one of his former pupils, nearly signed the death certificate with his nickname.
December 4th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
The socialists never give up do they. . . ?
For centuries it has been the accepted cultural ‘norm’ in the Western world (and, indeed, elsewhere as well), for younger human beings to address their elders as Mr, Mrs or Miss – this both creates a point of reference for children who are aware that those older than them are worthy of respect, while simultaneously reminding them that, until about 18 years of age, their position on the totem-pole of life is at the lower-end.
Unfortunately, the freedom-loving, baby-boomers, determined to change the things their parents held-dear, and to never again have to be respectful of the authority that said parents represented, deliberately decided to alter the status quo and encouraged THEIR offspring to start using first names for all and any adult they came in contact with, to the point that it is now socially acceptable (and, sadly normal) to have any child from 3 years and upward address all and anyone on these terms. At the time it was seen as ‘Liberating’ and ‘Cool’ and a way of undermining the authority of the hated adults
What was not realised by the vast majority, was that it also removed the social fabric and inherent respect shown to the older members of society (who actually DID have wisdom that the younger generation never could have at that stage of their lives), and that at some stage in the then-distant future, the self-same baby-boomers would actually WANT respect from the very young, since what goes around inevitably comes around – eventually.
Unfortunately, the idea was subsequently hijacked by those with a political-agenda and this latest decision is merely a manifestation of their utter determination to both destroy the family-unit in New Zealand, and simultaneously weaken new Zealand society in general. The socialists did well for nine years and although there was an election in 2008, only the ‘upper echlons’ of leadership have changed. The moles still burrow.
It is I believe, significant that the headmistress (sorry, Principal – must be PC mustn’t we) quoted in the opening article states that ‘instead of passively accepting what they are told, children are not overawed by authority and are more questioning’.
It would be interesting to know the lady’s political leanings, why she believes that children should NOT have respect for authority, why she believes she ISN’T worthy of that respect, and also if she has taken the time to see what the consequences are going to be some 30 years down the track when her little charges start breaking-up her property and invading her life because they have absolutely no respect for her.
But, as it is currently SO liberating to let the children say and do as they want to, and it puts her at the forefront of change, she will not have even given such concerns a second’s thought.
Finally, be under no illusions folks. This latest ‘twist’ is not random and isolated, but rather deliberate and calculated, to achieve the eventual aim – control and the destruction of New Zealand society.
The ‘reds’ are no longer under the bed. . .
December 4th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
indiana 12:56 pm,
Mr Cockburn (pronounced ‘Coburn’) always used surnames when referring to students in my recollection.
He was a great teacher and a nice guy, and had a wicked dry sense of humour. He sadly lost his family in a house fire if my memory serves me (prior to teaching me). And while we all new his name was Bruce, we would never have called him that to his face.
[For those wondering - we're talking about a teacher from Rongotai College, Wellington]
December 4th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
A local school has children use teacher’s ‘Christian’ names, but with either Matua or Whaea – I understand that to be ‘uncle’ and ‘auntie’ – where 75% of the school children are Maori but the teachers are not.
But since the question here is a matter of respect, you don’t need to be smart as a ten year-old to appreciate the irony in this being debated so soon on the heels of such great example to kids as that of Honewira and Phil Goff to mention only two of those that we look up to. Don’t think for a moment this on TV news is not taken in along with everything else.
“. . . practice what you preach and teach your children well . . . “
December 4th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Komata 1:31 pm,
Excellent comment!
And yes, the education system is full of progressives/liberals/socialists. Not to mention quite a few feminists/lesbians thrown in for good measure.
And we wonder why our kids are screwed up, and leading the world in youth suicide figures.
Watch these trends continue to rise in the next batch of indoctrinated youth.
December 4th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
And of course no one should be permitted to teach unless they’re fully pasid up members of the flesh eating blood drinking club, eh Kris?
December 4th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Give it six months Komata, the teachers will be addressing the children by the titles master and misstress.
December 4th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
More PC lunacy. Now for something completely different……
… If the teacher was called Mohammed would that still be his Christian name?
December 4th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
It would be bad news to go down this path. For a start it blurs the line between pupil and teacher. Teachers need to maintain professional distance from their charges. Male teachers dressing professionally in a collar and tie is an example of this, as is being addressed by pupils as “Mr”. Young people need to learn and respect boundaries, and teachers need boundaries to help distance them from those they have care of. Teachers are teachers, not parents or, heaven forbid, pupils’ friends.
December 4th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Respect is being confused here. It is something that is earned, it isn’t instantly acquired depending on how someone is addressed (as Baloo demonstrates by pronouncing Cockburn). The teachers I had that I remember best I can remember their first names. Others I just remember their surname and maybe their nick name, that’s more like disrespect eg Conk, Stump, Moeraki Boulder – she had a name for “my friend Tickler” which she tried to terrorise us with, she was a bit strap happy.
It’s not about respect, some people like to impose their status.
December 4th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Talking of familiarity with kids, is Phil U on line today?
December 4th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
EC
No sir, Teachers WERE – it’s now all about ‘feelings’ and hugs and everyone being told they are SOOOO normal (even the deviants) ‘cos NO-ONE must ever be made to feel they are left out or (gasp!!) different, especially if they are Maori, Lesbian and (especially) Homosexual – the little dears might actually feel sad and that will never ever do.
And a for taking responsibility for their actions. . . No, the mantra now taught is that we are ALL responsible (even if we weren’t within 100kms of whatever happened) and must ALWAYS share EVERYTHING (cos if we didn’t someone might feel left out and . . . )
So insidious and pervasive has this become that children now think its ‘normal’ and that to compete is a no-no (its cool to be dumb – especially if you are Maori) and to suggest that it is unprofessional to be a friend is sacrilege – EXCEPT OF COURSE IF YOU ARE MALE, in which case you are constantly watched, spied-upon and monitored – especially around your female students , because, as every person in teaching knows, ALL MEN ARE RAPISTS and only women are kind and gentle and lesbians and . . .(and women never prey on children – do they?).
Things have changed immensely since ‘Tomorrow’s schools’ arrived.
December 4th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Who gives a crap toby. Most of us wouldn’t know either way.
December 4th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Miss Petris was hot
December 4th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Now DPF… you MUST have known I weigh in on this one!
Yes muppet, Miss Petris was hot, and DPF was full of youthful bravado when he called her a ‘Dumb Italian’ to her face, which was perhaps why he got to first name basis with Mr Jackson.. and his cane if I recall
December 4th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Don’t mistake a child’s addressing you as “Sir” or “Miss” for respect
December 4th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Miss Petris is no longer out of bounds, but Scott isn’t. Huh….the mad scientist!
December 4th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Wow, I had no idea this blog was just DPF’s old social group from school.
Are all Rongotai kids conservatives? Maybe that why they can’t win the shield these days
December 4th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Indeed. I have vivid memories of 6th form chemistry. Hot school afternoon, Mr Cockburn facing the board scribbling some complex organic chemistry equation, and the slightest (and I mean *the* most surreptitious, sneaky) yawn would, without any detraction from the equation script, invoke the response of “Thank you for your show of interest Mr getstaffed”. I swear than man had eyes in the back of his head.
December 4th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Gee, I had such a different High School life to you Rongotai boys… but then I did (like Trevor and others lol) go to Onslow.
December 4th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
‘Miss Petris was hot’
Fucking Oath!!!
December 4th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
As a member of the ‘politically correct no respect for elders or authority never been smacked generation’ I called all my teachers Mr X and Ms Y, and now having left school I agree with DPF calling them by their first name would still be weird and will be the rest of my life. As for parent’s friends and other adults, I haven’t encountered many that I haven’t called by their first name, especially as a lot of parents don’t have the same last name and you can never be sure. My mother’s response to being called ‘Mrs A’ is always “Mrs A is my mother-in-law, call me B.”
As for step parents, calling them anything other than by their first name is just plain strange. I don’t think you could ever truly accept a step parent into the home or family calling them Mr Jenkins the rest of your life.
December 4th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
It is disturbing how many ex Rongotai people post here. Even worse, is I have not worked out who you all are.
I do not recall the Miss Petris incident. Now it must be said I was caned a total of 51 times in my 3rd and 4th form for (generally) insolence to teachers, so it is possible it happened. But usually my insolence was more indirect.
Jadis: If I recall your school exploits made the local newspaper.
December 4th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
You’re absolutely right. Why, I rue the day (and gnash my teeth and wail too) that this disgusting liberalism infected our society to such a degree that beating and raping your own wife was made illegal. That cultural ‘norm’ was a marker of who, exactly, was better than who, creating a point of reference for women who should have been aware that the ones with the sexual organs on the outside are worthy of automatic respect, while simultaneously reminding them that, until their spouse’s death, their position on the totem-pole of life was at the lower end.
Unfortunately, the freedom-loving baby-boomers, determined to change everything their parents held dear, and to never again have to be respectful of the authority married men represented, deliberately decided to alter the status quo and encouraged THEIR offspring to say that beating someone up or sexually assaulting them simply because you’re married to them is completely unacceptable. At the time it was seen as ‘Liberating’ and ‘Cool’ and a way of undermining the authority of the hated men, but now…
IT’S DISGUSTING. FACT.
December 4th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Heh. Caned 51 times in two years for mostly the same offence. Nice to see corporal punishment working so well…:-)
December 4th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Please explain how calling your teachers by salutation/surname made you respect them.
But don’t launch this topic into ruination by explaining how without those canings you would be a much worse person.
December 4th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Only 51 times…pffttt….
Fucking pussy!
December 4th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
No wonder Kiwiblog (seemingly nearly full of Rongatains) is so civilised and respectful after so much corporal punishment and Mr-ing at school.
December 4th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Wrong way around Pete. Using their formal name demonstrates attributed respect, rather than forming it from a void. And FWIW, anyone in a position of authority/responsibility know if they’ve earned that respect… irrespective of how they’re addressed.
December 4th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
So it’s sort of a short term charade?
December 4th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
I wonder if DPF had a role in this bit of turmoil at the college back in the day.
http://www.corpun.com/nzsc8110.htm
Quite funny reading through the issue now…especially the science of “cane flutter.”
December 4th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
muppet – that does bring back memories. The “We support our Boss” badges… which Noel instructed everyone to remove because they weren’t part of the official uniform
December 4th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
I think school children should refer to adults as Mr or Mrs and strongly disapprove of this first name carry on.
I also like being referred to as Mr in most settings (lest anyone forget their place on the totem pole) and find it all rather strange the galloping informality of modern times; no doubt all part of the socialist egalitarianism.
http://www.nightcitytrader.blogspot.com
December 4th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Funny – I always though of you more as a King Louis.
December 4th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
All Rongotai College Oldboys
Please list years attended.
Mr Getstaffed and Mr Muppet mentioned Mr Mackay’s ‘applied caning’ technique – he was an engineer afterall – worked for Rolls Royce during WWII; developed aircraft engines, etc.
So I assume you were early eighties.
Anyway, I attended from 1976 – 1980 (7th Form)
Just missed the caning fiasco as that was 1981.
December 4th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
I dislike the honorific ‘Mr’, afterall, it took 10 years of sustained effort to go from starting ‘varsity to getting my doctorate.
If someone is going to use my title, they should get it right.
December 4th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Respect is being confused here. It is something that is earned, it isn’t instantly acquired depending on how someone is addressed.
Couldn’t agree more.
People like to hear their own names, no mystery in that. People even have nick names and accept that as normal so where is the problem?
The use of titles is an issue of respect and kids learn that at the same time. Using a first name is not an issue of disrespect if the older person accepts that is they way younger people can address them. Calling a pratt male teacher “sir” with emphasis is a reflection of the lack of respect held at that particular point in time but apparently makes the Sir feel good and satisfies those with a power trip based on seniority.
I recall all the teachers used to have nick names and most of them were not flattering as most teachers were (and still are ) in a world of their own and for many respect was demanded rather than earned. Something that simply doesn’t work. One I recall was called “spit and dribble” Cause that’s what he did.
When one considers that in a lot of cases that the kids are also mixing in the community with those that are their teachers then first name basis would be common particularly at an older age.
Its certainly not uncommon for older students and younger teachers to be fraternizing at the same social events and indeed
the self righteous PPTA and its ilk are condescendingly concerned to ostracize any of their peers involved in that situation.
or its ongoing involvement between the human beings concerned. (more PC bullshit).
Take your pick; Would Trevor Mallard prefer to called, Trev, Trevor, Mr Mallard, Hey Mallard, Duck or any other form of his name or anything else.
(Not picking on you Trev. Just is an easy illustration of how pedantic this can get because my guess is that it would depend on the circumstances at the time, the rulers and the permissions taken or granted. In the end it comes down people.
December 4th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
At 48 I don’t mind being addressed by anyone say between 30 and 100 with my Christian name first up. Younger than that and I find it presumptious. I expect to be asked first or to be given the opportunity to decide if I wish to invite the other person to be on first name terms. When my 14 yo son brought his friend home and he addressed me by my Christian name I thought “jumped up little git”. First impressions. That impression hasn’t changed in 4 years.
December 4th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
i was always caned
at school, but sobered up in
time for my exams
December 5th, 2009 at 2:24 am
negative karma
is like water off haiku
dave’s oily buttocks
December 5th, 2009 at 10:31 am
As an ex-teacher and recently working in a High School for three weeks I have some opinions which might or might not be right.
Children are in school to learn not build up friendships wuth teachers. One thing that young teachers often get wrong is that they want to be “loved” by the students. If the teacher is teaching chemistry, your respect should be for the teachers ability to impart knowledge and learning attitudes not to sidle up to him with sweet inconsequences. I noted at the end of exams how these young teachers waiting anxiously to see how their young charges survived the emotional pain of an exam. Older teachers tended to stand back a bit and let the students sort out the emotional part of the exam themselves. A quiet word from the teacher to student is more appropriate.
To all bloggers on this topic, the word respect is the word. Many students in the later life talk respectfully of the teacher who stood no nonsense,acted as a professional and set them on course academically. The number of cases where teachers courting popularity and then crossing the line into undesriable behaviour is littered with many
who have ended up being severely compromised, sexually in particular.
Despite what the great unwashed might say, teachers need to earn respect by playing a straight bat to all temptations.
Remember, these are young kids of perhaps 10-17 and can get some pretty funny ideas. Many of them are supercharged with hormones and get crushes. One moments loss of appropriate behaviour can be the ruination of a teachers life and also for a vulnerable child.
Teachers have a real responsibility and sense of trust. We are loco parentis when we teach them. The question to ask fellow teachers is “Would parents act the way we are intending to do with their child”
They are not equal to teachers in this situation. If not, why have staffrooms for teachers. Why not let the teachers go out and play bullrush or go round the back of the bikesheds. Enough said.
End of story.
December 5th, 2009 at 10:44 am
I will never forget “Dr Gillard, Sir” best science teacher ever.
December 6th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
To us older people who were used to calling authority figures Mr. or Mrs./Miss children calling adults by their Christian names sounds too familiar even disrespectful. However children now grow up calling adults by their Christian names without realising it is unusual. My 5 year grandson seems to have as much respect for his teacher as children in the past while just calling her by her name – Christian name. At 15 it might be different but I think it is a matter of informality rather than familiarity. A teacher addressed by first name can still lay down the law when necessary.