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Montessori Teachers Chatboard

Source for children addressing guide by 1st name

by Jennifer

Mar 8, 2013

In many Montessori schools children address their teacher by first name. Please point me to the philosophical origin of that. Does Maria Montessori address this specifically in writing? Where? I understand why it is done. Not looking to debate this, just looking for the source info for how and why this is common practice in many schools. Thank you.

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No idea, but it's not good practice, in my experience Some of the traditional boundaries between teachers and students exist for sound reason.

On 3/08/13, Jennifer wrote: > In many Montessori schools children address their teacher > by first name. Please point me to the philosophical origin > of that. Does Maria Montessori address this specifically > in writing? Where? I understan...See More

Mar 10, 2013

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maureen On 3/10/13, No idea, but it's not good practice, in my experience wrote: > Some of the traditional boundaries between teachers and > students exist for sound reason. > > > On 3/08/13, Jennifer wrote: >> In many Montessori schools children address their teacher >> by first name. Please point me to the philosophical origin ...See MoreOn 3/10/13, No idea, but it's not good practice, in my experience wrote: > Some of the traditional boundaries between teachers and > students exist for sound reason. > > > On 3/08/13, Jennifer wrote: >> In many Montessori schools children address their teacher >> by first name. Please point me to the philosophical origin >> of that. Does Maria Montessori address this specifically >> in writing? Where? I understand why it is done. Not >> looking to debate this, just looking for the source info >> for how and why this is common practice in many schools. >> Thank you.

This subject comes up every so often as a discussion among Montessorians and I don't recall actually reading any quotes saying that this should be the case in Montessori's writings. Most of my friends who are AMI trained are called Mrs. Last Name. I would think with the supposedly strong connection with the "original" Montessori, if it were the case that Montessori wrote that teachers should be called by their first names, then AMI trained teachers would all be doing that. Of course, I am just guessing from personal experience. I never thought to ask why or if there was a definite reason for the formal name.

I have always been called by my first name and lack of respect from my students was never an issue. One's name has absolutely nothing to do with one's relationship with any child. I never felt like I was "just a friend" with the children in the same sense that we hear the complaints today about parents wanting to be their child's friend instead of parent.

When I worked at a large school, the teachers were called whatever the teacher preferred. One teacher was called Mrs. Last Name. One was called Ms. First Name and the rest first name only.

I did change my "name" in the last years of teaching but only because of parental "pressure". This was a cultural thing as in some parts of the US, it is considered disrespectful for a child to call any adult by his or her first name. These parents would insist that their child still call me Miss First Name although the rest of the class called me First Name Only. It was difficult for a young child to try to honor his parent's request and be the lone man out in calling me something else. So, I just went to the Ms. First Name and got used to it.

My grandchildren attend a public charter school that is based on the Progressive Model (whatever that means), and everyone there is called by their first name only. That includes the director, principal and all the teachers. This is a public elementary school and the teachers at the other traditional elementaries are totally up in arms that this is not right. My grandchildren are very respectful towards their teachers and I don't think the teacher/student relationship is affected one bit by what they call their teacher.

The ONLY label I absolutely disliked was being called Teacher. I never cared for that label and it bothered me personally. I would just tell the child that we had more then one teacher in the classroom and I preferred to be called by my name so i knew who they were talking to. Often, this label of Teacher came from parents. I am sure there is some root to that label, too.

It would be interesting to locate any reference to this name calling for teachers in Montessori's writings. I recall reading about the relationship of what a guide would have with the children in contrast of the traditional teacher model. I just don't remember an exact passage on how to address a teacher in Montessori classrooms. Good luck in your search!

Mar 10, 2013

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