A Parenting & kids forum. ParentingBanter.com

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Go Back   Home » ParentingBanter.com forum » misc.kids » General
Site Map Home Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

If the teacher is Miss Herfirstname . . .



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old March 1st 05, 05:28 PM
toypup
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default If the teacher is Miss Herfirstname . . .

Am I Mrs. Mylastname? I'd feel funny being Miss Myfirstname. I even feel
funny being Mrs. Mylastname. It's so formal. I like being Myfirstname, but
that's too informal, if I have to call the teacher Miss Herfirstname, which
I figure I have to, since she introduced herself that way. What is the best
way to introduce myself to a teacher who introduces herself as Miss
Herfirstname? This happens so much, I never know what to do. I just say my
whole name, but I'd rather figure out what I'm most comfy with, so I'd like
to know what other people are most comfy with first.


  #2  
Old March 1st 05, 05:34 PM
Irene
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


toypup wrote:
Am I Mrs. Mylastname? I'd feel funny being Miss Myfirstname. I even

feel
funny being Mrs. Mylastname. It's so formal. I like being

Myfirstname, but
that's too informal, if I have to call the teacher Miss Herfirstname,

which
I figure I have to, since she introduced herself that way. What is

the best
way to introduce myself to a teacher who introduces herself as Miss
Herfirstname? This happens so much, I never know what to do. I just

say my
whole name, but I'd rather figure out what I'm most comfy with, so

I'd like
to know what other people are most comfy with first.


Good question. DS' gymnastics teacher is Miss Herfirstname, but when
we go around the circle to introduce ourselves, the parents just use
Myfirstname. OTOH, we've started using Miss/Mr. Firstname for the
people in our office who ds sees on a regular basis, largely because
one of our staff started introducing herself to him that way. Our
neighbors mostly use Firstname, but one family's kids tend to Miss/Mr.
Firstname.

Clear as mud?

aka Miss Irene

  #3  
Old March 1st 05, 05:35 PM
dragonlady
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

In article ,
"toypup" wrote:

Am I Mrs. Mylastname? I'd feel funny being Miss Myfirstname. I even feel
funny being Mrs. Mylastname. It's so formal. I like being Myfirstname, but
that's too informal, if I have to call the teacher Miss Herfirstname, which
I figure I have to, since she introduced herself that way. What is the best
way to introduce myself to a teacher who introduces herself as Miss
Herfirstname? This happens so much, I never know what to do. I just say my
whole name, but I'd rather figure out what I'm most comfy with, so I'd like
to know what other people are most comfy with first.



I generally introduce myself with my full name (no title) and invite
folks to call me by my first name.

If the situation seems more formal, I invite them to call me "Ms.
Lastname".

Some of the parents at church invite their children to call me "Miss
Firstname" (especially if they are from some parts of the south) and I'm
getting used to it, but would not invite it from an adult.
--
Children won't care how much you know until they know how much you care

  #4  
Old March 1st 05, 05:37 PM
Stephanie Stowe
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"toypup" wrote in message
m...
Am I Mrs. Mylastname? I'd feel funny being Miss Myfirstname. I even feel
funny being Mrs. Mylastname. It's so formal. I like being Myfirstname,
but that's too informal, if I have to call the teacher Miss Herfirstname,
which I figure I have to, since she introduced herself that way. What is
the best way to introduce myself to a teacher who introduces herself as
Miss Herfirstname? This happens so much, I never know what to do. I just
say my whole name, but I'd rather figure out what I'm most comfy with, so
I'd like to know what other people are most comfy with first.


IMO, she introduced herself as Miss Herfirstname, so that is what you call
her. You introduce yourself as YourFirstName, and that is what she calls
you. I would think it a little dopey for me to call someone Miss or Mrs
while they call me Stephanie. But I don't know who Mrs. Stowe is, but it
sure is not me.... So either the teacher just introduced herself so you know
which of your childn's teachers she is, and will say Oh call me Kate (or
whatever) or you are stuck calling her Miss Whatever.

One caviat. If calling her Miss Whatever while you go with your first name
is going to cause you to feel you are speaking with an Authority Figure
rather than a professional peer, then you might want to adopt Mrs Lastname.
You do not want to set a tone of poor beggar at the doorstep of the
Authority.


  #5  
Old March 1st 05, 05:38 PM
Circe
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

"toypup" wrote in message
m...
Am I Mrs. Mylastname? I'd feel funny being Miss Myfirstname. I even feel
funny being Mrs. Mylastname. It's so formal. I like being Myfirstname,

but
that's too informal, if I have to call the teacher Miss Herfirstname,

which
I figure I have to, since she introduced herself that way. What is the

best
way to introduce myself to a teacher who introduces herself as Miss
Herfirstname? This happens so much, I never know what to do. I just say

my
whole name, but I'd rather figure out what I'm most comfy with, so I'd

like
to know what other people are most comfy with first.


I don't think that what the kids call the teacher should have any bearing on
what the teacher and the parent call one another.

When my kids were in preschool, their teachers were Miss Firstname to
*them*. *I* called the teachers Firstname and, if we were meeting for the
first time, introduced myself as Firstname Kidsname's Mom.

Now that my older kids are in elementary school, their teachers are
Mrs/Ms/Mr Lastname. When we meet for the first time, I introduce myself as
Firstname Lastname, Kidsname's Mom. The teachers typically reciprocate and
introduce themselves as Firstname Lastname. Most of my kids' elementary
school teachers prefer that we are on a first name basis, however, and make
that clear early on. Some teachers prefer to be called Mrs/Ms/Mr Lastname,
however, but if that is what they prefer, they generally call me Mrs.
Lastname as a courtesy.

I prefer a situation in which the teacher and I treat each other as peers,
rather than my treating the teacher as an authority figure while the teacher
treats me as a subordinate by using my first name. Shudder
--
Be well, Barbara
Mom to Mr. Congeniality (7), the Diva (5) and the Race Car Fanatic (3
tomorrow)

I have PMS and ESP...I'm the bitch who knows everything! (T-shirt slogan)


  #6  
Old March 1st 05, 05:41 PM
Stephanie Stowe
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Irene" wrote in message
oups.com...

toypup wrote:
Am I Mrs. Mylastname? I'd feel funny being Miss Myfirstname. I even

feel
funny being Mrs. Mylastname. It's so formal. I like being

Myfirstname, but
that's too informal, if I have to call the teacher Miss Herfirstname,

which
I figure I have to, since she introduced herself that way. What is

the best
way to introduce myself to a teacher who introduces herself as Miss
Herfirstname? This happens so much, I never know what to do. I just

say my
whole name, but I'd rather figure out what I'm most comfy with, so

I'd like
to know what other people are most comfy with first.


Good question. DS' gymnastics teacher is Miss Herfirstname, but when
we go around the circle to introduce ourselves, the parents just use
Myfirstname. OTOH, we've started using Miss/Mr. Firstname for the
people in our office who ds sees on a regular basis, largely because
one of our staff started introducing herself to him that way. Our
neighbors mostly use Firstname, but one family's kids tend to Miss/Mr.
Firstname.

Clear as mud?



When around neighbors, other parents and whatnot, we ask them in DS's
presence if they perfer first name or Mr., Mrs.... I did without thinking
one time with the neighbor of my in-laws. I asked her if she perfer her
first name or Mrs. B.... (very long name). She indicated she really did
prefer Mrs. B... DS asked about it and we had a nice conversation about
politeness, etc. and how it is an extension of respect. I know that DS does
not really understand all this the first time mentioned. But over time, he
gets the general gyst.


aka Miss Irene



  #7  
Old March 1st 05, 05:53 PM
Mary Ann Tuli
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

toypup wrote:
Am I Mrs. Mylastname? I'd feel funny being Miss Myfirstname. I even feel
funny being Mrs. Mylastname. It's so formal. I like being Myfirstname, but
that's too informal, if I have to call the teacher Miss Herfirstname, which
I figure I have to, since she introduced herself that way. What is the best
way to introduce myself to a teacher who introduces herself as Miss
Herfirstname? This happens so much, I never know what to do. I just say my
whole name, but I'd rather figure out what I'm most comfy with, so I'd like
to know what other people are most comfy with first.


Teachers are all Mrs. Miss or Mr. Theirlastname and I am Mrs Mylastname
at school. My GP calls me Mrs. Mylastname. These are the only people
that actually know me yet call me Mrs. Mylastname. I am called Mrs.
Mylastname or Madam in formal(ish) situations like restaurants or
solicitors but this feels OK to me.
Everywhere else I am Mary Ann.

Mary Ann

  #8  
Old March 1st 05, 06:41 PM
Melania
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


Stephanie Stowe wrote:
"toypup" wrote in message
m...
Am I Mrs. Mylastname? I'd feel funny being Miss Myfirstname. I

even feel
funny being Mrs. Mylastname. It's so formal. I like being

Myfirstname,
but that's too informal, if I have to call the teacher Miss

Herfirstname,
which I figure I have to, since she introduced herself that way.

What is
the best way to introduce myself to a teacher who introduces

herself as
Miss Herfirstname? This happens so much, I never know what to do.

I just
say my whole name, but I'd rather figure out what I'm most comfy

with, so
I'd like to know what other people are most comfy with first.


IMO, she introduced herself as Miss Herfirstname, so that is what you

call
her. You introduce yourself as YourFirstName, and that is what she

calls
you. I would think it a little dopey for me to call someone Miss or

Mrs
while they call me Stephanie. But I don't know who Mrs. Stowe is, but

it
sure is not me.... So either the teacher just introduced herself so

you know
which of your childn's teachers she is, and will say Oh call me Kate

(or
whatever) or you are stuck calling her Miss Whatever.

Wow. I'm not at all accustomed to people being Miss Herfirstname . . .
it's always been the last name around here.

One caviat. If calling her Miss Whatever while you go with your first

name
is going to cause you to feel you are speaking with an Authority

Figure
rather than a professional peer, then you might want to adopt Mrs

Lastname.
You do not want to set a tone of poor beggar at the doorstep of the
Authority.


I was thinking this too. I remember when I was in my early 20s, my mom
worked with a woman who also taught my youngest brother. We were at
some kind of event (fundraising, concert, something) and I was sent by
mom to ask this woman for something. To get her attention, I called her
by her first name (we had been introduced by first name by my mom). She
said, "oh, my students call me Mrs. G." I thought, "well, I'm not your
student." I admit I continued to call her by her first name b/c I felt
she was trying to establish a power dynamic that I didn't appreciate.

I'm a first name person, generally, but if someone insists on being
called by an honorific, I expect the same in return.

It would seem really silly, to me, to see two women calling each other
Miss Jennifer and Miss Heather (or whatever). In a similar situation, I
might be sneaky and say, "I'm ds's mom!" And then she would either be
forced to call me Ms. Mylastname or ask my first name - and presumably
then say, "please, just call me Kate," or whatever.

Melania
Mom to Joffre (Jan 11, 2003)
and #2 (edd May 21, 2005)

  #9  
Old March 1st 05, 06:55 PM
dragonlady
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

In article .com,
"Melania" wrote:

I'm a first name person, generally, but if someone insists on being
called by an honorific, I expect the same in return.


I, on the other hand, am a first name person (partly because people tend
to not pronounce my last name correctly, but mostly it's just my nature)
and will call people what they wish to be called and still invite them
to call me by my first name.

Somehow, it never makes me feel that I am in a "lesser" position, though
I understand that for many people, it does.
--
Children won't care how much you know until they know how much you care

  #10  
Old March 1st 05, 07:00 PM
Ruth Baltopoulos
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

"dragonlady" wrote:

: "Melania" wrote:

snips

: I'm a first name person, generally, but if someone
insists on being
: called by an honorific, I expect the same in return.

: I, on the other hand, am a first name person (partly
because people tend
: to not pronounce my last name correctly, but mostly it's
just my nature)
: and will call people what they wish to be called and still
invite them
: to call me by my first name.

That is pretty much how I feel. I will call them whatever
it is that they wish to be called, but still prefer to be
called by my fist name.

: Somehow, it never makes me feel that I am in a "lesser"
position, though
: I understand that for many people, it does.

Nah, me either. It does steam me a bit when I ask to be
called Ruth by a child, and their parent insists that I be
called Mrs. Baltopoulos. I mean, I understand that is their
wishes, but it is *my* name and I cannot stand Mrs.
Baltopoulos (not to mention most kids can't come close to
saying it).

Also, for whatever reason, I have always had a knee-jerk
aversion to calling or being called Miss Myfirstname. Not
sure why, but it makes me grimace...
--
Ruth


 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Solicit gifts from students mdurg General (moderated) 25 June 29th 04 01:31 PM
I do miss being pregnant! Jill Pregnancy 14 May 20th 04 06:10 PM
Teacher asks child to repeat kindergarten, Please help Galbo General 15 March 21st 04 02:39 PM
Teacher asks child to repeat kindergarten, Please help Galbo General (moderated) 19 March 21st 04 02:39 PM
teacher gifts: how much is too much? Nevermind General 40 December 26th 03 08:34 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 10:38 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 ParentingBanter.com.
The comments are property of their posters.