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This is the other side of the coin. In English, pretty much every adult in my life wanted to be called by first name. Growing up all my parents' friends went by first name and my friends called my parents by first name. It's because that's how they introduced themselves and wanted to be called. Whenever my friends would call my parents Mr./Mrs. they'd insist on their first names. In this instance it would be disrespectful to insist on the title when the person clearly wants to be called by their first name.
As a result I grew up not really being used to using titles in English and it still sounds awkward to me. I think it's important for teachers to remember some kids are raised without anyone ever teaching them about titles or formalities so they shouldn't be offended but instead just focus on giving their students a new space to learn about a different way of doing things.
Easy enough though, to use the terms expected in a given place. I said ma'am and sir to teachers and called them Mr., Mrs., etc. When my baseball coach told me to call him 1st name, I did that. It took awhile to get my parents to approve, but they did later on.
Easy enough though, to use the terms expected in a given place. I said ma'am and sir to teachers and called them Mr., Mrs., etc. When my baseball coach told me to call him 1st name, I did that. It took awhile to get my parents to approve, but they did later on.
I agree, and that's what I do. I avoid sir and ma'am in English not cause I don't want to be polite, but because they never sound right coming off my tongue. People think I'm trying to be facetious when I'm not. I do use Mr./Ms./Dr./Professor when I can, though.
I think if most of the transplants moved back to the NE, most of the schools would have to close and the least of the teacher's problems would be how she was addressed. Manners are important and it is something I was taught and my children are taught no matter where we decided to call home. "Yeah, Whutt, you godda prahblem wit dat" were never part of our vocabulary, even growing up in Queens, New York! I love North Carolina and am proud to call this home now!
In my humble opinion, addressing an elder in a superior position (teacher, etc) as "Ms. Soandso" is far more polite than "ma'am".
Every female is a "ma'am". Only "Ms. Soandso" is Ms. Soandso.
So I'm not really sure why the OP thinks this should be "enforced". Unless they were trying to stir the pot, then we have 15 pages and counting of nothingness.
In my humble opinion, addressing an elder in a superior position (teacher, etc) as "Ms. Soandso" is far more polite than "ma'am".
Every female is a "ma'am". Only "Ms. Soandso" is Ms. Soandso.
So I'm not really sure why the OP thinks this should be "enforced". Unless they were trying to stir the pot, then we have 15 pages and counting of nothingness.
I thought the OP was wondering if it COULD be enforced.
I think if most of the transplants moved back to the NE, most of the schools would have to close and the least of the teacher's problems would be how she was addressed. Manners are important and it is something I was taught and my children are taught no matter where we decided to call home. "Yeah, Whutt, you godda prahblem wit dat" were never part of our vocabulary, even growing up in Queens, New York! I love North Carolina and am proud to call this home now!
Nah. The schools wouldn't close. They would be less crowded for awhile until some other people moved here.
I tend to support whatever the teacher requests as long as he/she is consistent.
Consistent yes.
But that needs to more broadly based than a policy for just one classroom...
or even one school building.
I was raised (up in Yankee land btw) to use ma'am and sir when addressing adults that I didn't know the actual names of. In school, for teachers and principals etc it was almost always Mr or Mrs etc.
Consistent yes.
But that needs to more broadly based than a policy for just one classroom...
or even one school building.
I was raised (up in Yankee land btw) to use ma'am and sir when addressing adults that I didn't know the actual names of. In school, for teachers and principals etc it was almost always Mr or Mrs etc.
Educators have enough to do without the school system telling them what form of polite address is the standard.
It's not like the kids are being penalized for not knowing which teacher prefers which greeting when they first enter a classroom.
In lower grades, you have just ONE main teacher. It's not hard to remember what he/she wants to be called after being reminded a few times during the first couple of weeks of school.
It's not hard to remember what he/she wants to be called after being reminded a few times during the first couple of weeks of school.
eh?
are you saying it's somehow a good practice to have the several groups of 2nd graders at school X being taught to do something so basic in different ways? and that when they move up to 3rd grade there might be a whole other set of standards to learn how to apply?
are you saying it's somehow a good practice to have the several groups of 2nd graders at school X being taught to do something so basic in different ways? and that when they move up to 3rd grade there might be a whole other set of standards to learn how to apply?
Yes.
Children aren't idiots.
They learn very quickly.
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