RE: Don't Call Me Mister

[Peterson, Douglas]

Very interesting reading!  I've always given my classes permission to call me by my first name, but remind them that they should use Professor unless told otherwise for the rest of the faculty.  I started the first name thing because I, like others, started teaching ABD but have continued it because I believe that education is something teacher and student pursue together and using first names reminds ME we are in this together.  I've never had trouble maintaining boundaries, but agree that using a title can help achieve that in ambiguous situations.  I have noticed some students starting to refer to be as Dr. Doug and was asked by one student if that was O.K. - I didn't really know what to think.   The real reason for my post was a comment from our admissions department.  The admissions staff noted that it impresses prospective students when they hear people on campus referring to Dr. or Professor and so they address faculty that way on campus even when told to use first names.  I then began to notice that I ALWAYS refer to my colleagues as Dr. Smith or Professor Jones when speaking to students.  My two cents on this early Sunday morning!   Professor Peterson Dr. Peterson Mr. Doug Peterson, Ph.D. Dr. Doug   Doug       Doug Peterson Associate Professor of Psychology The University of South Dakota Vermillion SD 57069 (605) 677-5295 [EMAIL PROTECTED]   -----Original Message----- From: Karl L. Wuensch [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2004 8:16 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences Subject: Don't Call Me Mister       Freshmen in my intro class often call me 'Mister,' which I don't like.  I prefer first names, but if they must be formal, I prefer 'Professor' or 'Doctor.'  I found a brief discussion of this put up by UCF, at http://www.ucfnews.com/news/2003/06/25/Lifestyles/Whats.In.A.Name.How.To.Address.A.Professor.In.Class-440611.shtml .  Do you all speak to your freshman about how to address professors?   http://core.ecu.edu/psyc/wuenschk/Professor.htm   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Karl L. Wuensch, Department of Psychology, East Carolina University, Greenville NC  27858-4353 Voice:  252-328-4102     Fax:  252-328-6283 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://core.ecu.edu/psyc/wuenschk/klw.htm   --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]