Fun Facts on Honourifics

Her Grand Ducal Highness, His Serene Higness, and His Lordship were all once used to show proper respect to authority figures.

Cost of Technology

The Department of Education donated $7 million for technological advancement in schools in 2011.

Entrepreneur Bill Gates and his wife Melinda donated $20 million in the same year to education in Philadelphia and New York

A Divisive Topic

The question of whether to call teachers by their first names or their professional titles seems to bring up a major split in opinions. Teachers and students from all over the country have been polled on websites on what to call teachers. Both parties, teachers and students, have different views on the topic. According to http://www.traintheteacher.wordpress.com/2011/04/27/should-students-call-teachers-by-their-first-names/ , http://community.babycentre.co.uk/post/a2867885/children_calling_teachers_by_their_first_names/ ,  and http://gazette.teachers.net/gazette/wordpress/editor/should-students-be-allowed-to-call-their-teachers-by-their-first-name/  , most teachers think it is highly disrespectful for a student to call them by their first name. One teacher is quoted as saying, "Using honourifics reminds everyone that the teacher is their senior and as a result gets a title." A teacher blogged on BabyCentre that their view is that teachers are figures of authority to students and, therefore, should be treated as such. "Teachers aren't kids friends," said the teacher, "and, I think, that using title provdes a nice clear boundary that children can easily understand." Another teacher is quoted as saying, "The students don't know me like that. And they're my students, not my peers or my pals." Dr. Michael Carr-Gregg conducted a study on http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/class-divide-over-naming-rites/story-e6frf7kx-1111115360217 found that more respect can be fundamental to more success in a classroom setting.

     However, many individuals are of the opposing impression. Mr. Ackermann, a teacher interviewed on the Herald Sun Website, stated using a person's first name isn't disrespectful towards the teacher. "There is no lack of respect in the use of someone's first name." says Ackerman. "People are respected for who they are, for their actions, and how they conduct themselves."  Most of the disagreement comes from students themselves. A blog started from a tenth grade student with a username of "maclover001" states that, "Honestly... I think it's just stupid that we still have to adress our teachers by 'Mr.' or 'Mrs.'" A college student with the username "dukebound85" responded with, "I, for example, work with a lot of PHD's and I always said Doctor such and such.  They told me, 'Call me "first name." The doctor part is for interviews.' With this study, we hope to discover the true feelings of teachers and students in regards to referring to authority figures on a first-name basis.

 

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In addition to calling teachers by their first names, another point of inquiry has been incorporating technology into a classroom setting. On http://www.thelantern.com/teachers-react-to-cellphone-use-in-class-1.2873901#.UWgu8aKR_j4, it apperas as though many teachers are firmly against cellphone usage in school, claiming it is a distraction and deterrence to the learning environment. One teacher on the aforementioned website believes that it is the student's responsibility to make good decisions when in a classroom, however, he is thoroughly opposed to openly inviting technology into a classroom setting. Pash Lyvers-Peffer, an associate professor of animal science, says, "When I dedicate time to teach, I expect students to dedicate time to listening. I do not take attendance and it is my idea that if an individual is in class, they should be dedicating their attention to that class."

A bit shocking, however, is that students are dividewd on the issue as well. Many students hold the ideal that cell phones and other communicatory and web-browsing devices cannot be used during class because it simply goes against what the teacher expects. On student who holds this view responeded,"I follow that rule. I don't usually use my cellphone in class anyways, so I am already complying." For some students, it is a matter of complying to their teachers wishes, but other says have stated that they are against using cell phones during instruction time because it takes away from their learning, the primary obligation and ultimate reward for attending class. However, in a study conducted at Wilkes University, accessible at http://www.advancetitan.com/editorial/texting-during-class-is-classless-1.2819262#UWgw1qKR_j4,  found that about 91% of students do indeed use cell phones during class. This study is a prime example of the reason why many teachers are mistrusting of cell phones, as well as other forms of technology, in the hands of students during class time. Our study hopes to make a decisive conclusion on the matter of what studnets and eteachers perceive as more disrespectful: referring to a teacher by their first name or using technology in class.