tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788292015056401137.post6162715220312239012..comments2022-03-03T14:27:32.538+00:00Comments on Learning is not dead: Why my students call me HollyAnneHJGiffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10846465154749788169noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788292015056401137.post-24698651197332901152012-10-31T19:18:05.269+00:002012-10-31T19:18:05.269+00:00Very interesting! I didn't realize that you li...Very interesting! I didn't realize that you live on campus. How is the living situation set up? Are there dorms? Do all faculty and staff live on campus? I like the observation that students know that they know the real you. My students know the real me--I am the same person at home and at school--but I have to imagine that not all of them believe that. Many teachers are different people in different places. (This isn't necessarily a bad thing, in many cases!) Ultimately, I think that it depends on the person. I don't have a preference either way with how I am addressed by my students (it's Mrs. Bex at school because it has to be, but I wouldn't mind Martina), and I see both sides of the coin. I don't think that any of my students would say that I am far-off or untouchable, but I think that the formality is beneficial to many of them that don't have formal authority figures in their lives. Authority doesn't have to be untouchable and/or out-of-touch, but it does have to be respected and questioned in an appropriate manner. This is a skill needed for life in a professional environment. I don't think that using formal or informal titles makes that difference, but it is one way that students can demonstrate that teachers are not their friends: mentors, cheerleaders, caretakers, fellow walkers of life, but not peers. Too many of my students are living out of control lives because they have parents that have chosen to be their child's friend over their child's parent.MmBexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14378936178902085497noreply@blogger.com