tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410387772840321888.post3036121749741760571..comments2023-10-03T11:28:42.397-04:00Comments on Badass Teachers Association Blog: What’s your opinion on having students call you by your first name? A student respondsBadassTeacher Associationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06249079678877556839noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410387772840321888.post-6991652972506689102014-08-16T19:46:44.518-04:002014-08-16T19:46:44.518-04:00Kristen,
I agree with your sentiments and admire...Kristen,<br /><br /><br />I agree with your sentiments and admire your activism.<br /><br /><br />I would not, however, encourage students to use my first name.<br /><br /><br />Teachers generally have more power than students, not due to any personal superiority but due to the socially sanctioned role they fulfill. Teachers have an obligation to refrain from using their students to fulfill needs (whether social, emotional, or sexual) that should be fulfilled by other adults. Obviously, some teachers respect these boundaries while using their first names, and others violate them while styling themselves Mr. or Ms. So-And-So.<br /><br /><br />For me, however, using the more formal version of my name is a way of reminding myself and my students of the responsibilities I must fulfill and of the boundaries I must respect as I play a very specific role in their lives.<br /><br /><br />When I was a senior in high school, I had the highest SAT score in my congressional district, and thus was able, in turn, to recognize one of my former teachers for his excellence. I selected a teacher I had had in middle school, a man who has had a huge (positive) influence on the course of my life.<br /><br /><br />He gave me a ride to the award ceremony. During this car trip, he informed me that now that I was an adult, we could be friends. He told me to call him by his first name. He then told me about details of his sexual history that I would definitely have preferred NOT to know about. At the time I was 18 and no longer his student, but I would have much preferred that he continue to treat me more like a student and less like a . . . very close, very adult, friend?<br /><br /><br />Again, I don't think the first name/last name thing is the make-or-break issue here, but there is a boundary between students and teachers that should be respected. For me, the use of my last name affirms the special character of that relationship.NewarkTFAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11673599595544347180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410387772840321888.post-58584156670141903132014-08-15T06:30:36.576-04:002014-08-15T06:30:36.576-04:00Bravo, Kristin! Beautifully and powerfully stated....Bravo, Kristin! Beautifully and powerfully stated.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410387772840321888.post-58778570316590825552014-08-13T16:16:49.336-04:002014-08-13T16:16:49.336-04:00Kudos to you, Miss Kowtanluk! And kudos to every a...Kudos to you, Miss Kowtanluk! And kudos to every adult that has ever inspired you or influenced you to become the thoughtful young woman you are today. Excellent piece of writing! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02377282694441301815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410387772840321888.post-79977212053963599622014-08-13T15:37:07.567-04:002014-08-13T15:37:07.567-04:00Kristin, I appreciate you and the rest of the stud...Kristin, I appreciate you and the rest of the students in the Newark Students Union. Feel free to call me by my name anytime you want! <br /><br />From a fellow KristinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410387772840321888.post-19554275862546379922014-08-13T15:34:53.026-04:002014-08-13T15:34:53.026-04:00This is wonderful Kristin. Thank you for using you...This is wonderful Kristin. Thank you for using your student voice. Please never remain silent. ^o^Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com