A Former Teacher As A Friend, First Name Or Last?

[Family Ties Forever!]

If you stayed friends with a teacher from when you were in school should you call them by their first name or last name?

I have three friends who are former teachers. One insists that I call her by her first name while the other two insist that I call them by their last names. I have known them for almost 20 years. One I've known for 16 years, one for 17 years, and one for for 19 years.

[Schmoopie]

I would probably just ask them what they'd like me to call them. I'm sure the first instinct would be last name, but if you're friends with that person they might be okay with something more comfortable. But in any case ask first.

[phoebe7165]

My old middle school band director is one of my FB friends and I still call him Mr. Cannon. I would feel weird calling him Bill.

[AB]

It really depends on what you feel comfortable with.
The few teachers that I run into I call Miss Judy, Miss Marsha, & Miss Kathy, even though they are all married. I hardly ever see any of the men teachers from school.

[Janice]

It depends. If I saw a teacher in a store or at a reunion, I would call them by their last name. However, it's different if you form a friendship with them. I remained friends with one of my college teachers, and I called her by her first name. I don't even remember her giving me permission; it just happened. If she insisted that I call her by last name, I'm wouldn't want to be friends with her because the friendship wouldn't be on equal terms. I'd probably tell her fine, as long as you call me by my last name as well. They're teachers, not doctors.

[Mr. Television]

If you are friends and have been for years then of course you should be able to call them by their first names. They aren't your teachers anymore.

[Family Ties Forever!]

Thanks for your opinions everyone.

Originally Posted by Janice

It depends. If I saw a teacher in a store or at a reunion, I would call them by their last name. However, it's different if you form a friendship with them. I remained friends with one of my college teachers, and I called her by her first name. I don't even remember her giving me permission; it just happened. If she insisted that I call her by last name, I'm wouldn't want to be friends with her because the friendship wouldn't be on equal terms. I'd probably tell her fine, as long as you call me by my last name as well. They're teachers, not doctors.

That's a good point. It's not an equal friendship if one is having to call the other by their last name.

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

If you are friends and have been for years then of course you should be able to call them by their first names. They aren't your teachers anymore.

That's true, they aren't my teachers anymore.

[Penny Lane]

I live in a small town where everybody knows everybody. My former high school teacher is part of my "breakfast club". We meet every morning. I call him by his first name(he's now in his 80's) I had a hard time at first calling him Dave but that soon passed. He is the type of person who's very congenial and down to earth and he has a droll sense of humor. But on the other hand my former high school principal is there everyday also and everybody still calls him Mr. Brown(even older people). I guess it's because he was such an authority figure and we feel he earned our respect. I would never be comfortable calling him by his first name.

[Dude111]

I call mine by thier first name.. I have some I have stayed friends with