ABSTRACT
However, another student is likely to then say ‘Well Kate, if we don’t tell anyone then can we call you by your first name in your lessons if you don’t mind?’ Students have a fascination with calling teachers by their first names as they are probably the only adults in their lives whose surnames they have to use on a regular basis. This then becomes a compelling situation that students wish to subvert or at least explore further. You will have to decide whether you think it is appropriate to allow students to call you by your first name but you should check it with your Head of Department first. You can tell the students that you are going to ask your Head of Department and you will get back to them. You need to think carefully about why you are
If you do decide to allow it, the students in this class will inevitably tell other students that you teach and they will all insist that they call you by your first name. This may be fine with classes that are manageable but there will be other classes in the future that will test you. It is at this point that you may find the professional distance that using a surname gives you is needed; however, once you have agreed to not use your surname it will be impossible to reinstate it.
