Why do we call teachers by their last names?

[N1x0n's B4ck]

I think it's rather stupid that we call them by their last names, if I were a teacher, I wouldn't care at all if people called me by my first name, because it's no big deal. Many teachers get angry if you call them by their first name and you can even get in trouble for it.

Why do we do this? And why is it such a big deal?

[Radene]

Huh, over here it was always "teacher" or "professor" in class.

[Spawn of Totoro]

It is considered a sign of respect. First names are used when you are familar with the person and have a relationship, other then a professional one.

By calling them their first name, with out permission to do so, you are disrespecting them and their position.

It is a part of most societies in the world. Some are more strict about it, others are more layed back, but it is a part of them. You would be hard pressed to find one where it is not.

[Xautos]

i think i remember saying a couple of weeks ago that i had a wierd female english teacher, mid to late 30's never wore a bra and the shirt she wear is a little too small for her size leaving big gaps. it was hard to look anywhere else as a teenage boy with raging hormones.

To call her by her first name would of only annoyed her enough to come over and i don't know what would be worse, not knowing where my eyes were going to go with her standing there and her looking at you or the punishment she'd dish out in verbal abuse.

i stop calling teachers by any name after that incident.. man that was such a long time ago.

[Drab]

Because last names have more chance to be unique than first names.

[Zergem]

Because it shows respect.

[NotSoBad]

Originally posted by Spawn of Totoro:

It is considered a sign of respect.

This.

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Originally posted by Spawn of Totoro:

It is considered a sign of respect. First names are used when you are familar with the person and have a relationship, other then a professional one.

By calling them their first name, with out permission to do so, you are disrespecting them and their position.

It is a part of most societies in the world. Some are more strict about it, others are more layed back, but it is a part of them. You would be hard pressed to find one where it is not.

^This.

[N1x0n's B4ck]

Originally posted by Spawn of Totoro:

It is considered a sign of respect. First names are used when you are familar with the person and have a relationship, other then a professional one.

By calling them their first name, with out permission to do so, you are disrespecting them and their position.

It is a part of most societies in the world. Some are more strict about it, others are more layed back, but it is a part of them. You would be hard pressed to find one where it is not.

What if it's a teacher that doesn't mind being called by their first name? I've met a few of those.

[Xero_Daxter]

Same thing in Japan. Unless you are close to that person you call them by their last name.

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Originally posted by N1x0n's B4ck:

Originally posted by Spawn of Totoro:

It is considered a sign of respect. First names are used when you are familar with the person and have a relationship, other then a professional one.

By calling them their first name, with out permission to do so, you are disrespecting them and their position.

It is a part of most societies in the world. Some are more strict about it, others are more layed back, but it is a part of them. You would be hard pressed to find one where it is not.

What if it's a teacher that doesn't mind being called by their first name? I've met a few of those.

Then go ahead. Unless they don't want you to user their last name for some reason, they will always tell you what they perfer which ever they want you to call out to them.

[Blargo]

I call every professor "sir" or "miss".
Hasn't caused any issues so far.

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Originally posted by Dxpress:

I call every professor "sir" or "miss".
Hasn't caused any issues so far.

Now call all the female teachers "sir", and all the males teachers "miss" and see what happen.

[Devious]

It's less a gesture of respect, and more of a measure to keep one's personal and professional lives separate. A teacher isn't supposed to be your friend, therefore a certain distance must be kept between you and them. Hence the "public" last name and the "private" first name.

In french, we even use a different pronoun when addressing someone in a professional context, or talking to any adult stranger.

[feytharn]

It is not only about respect. If you ake classes in psychology, medicine or educational science, you are likely to learn that it helps to create a professional distance. It should (in theory, of course it doesn't work all the time) to keep feelings out of the equation when talking to students (whether a teacher likes or dislikes a student, whether a teacher goes through some personal stuff atm, whether a teacher feels pity for a student etc.) and deciding about grades.

[MADWACZ]

I am not familiar with this, I call all persons I met the first name they have.