A Phd teaching 1st Grade

[Imzadi]

Lawyers have Doctorate degrees too. They are not called Dr. Just because you have a Doctorate doesn't mean you should be called Dr.

Lawyers can be called "Esquire." I know many that put that at the end of their correspondence.


As long as Dr. Smith isn't the Dr. Smith from the original Lost In Space, I wouldn't have a problem with him.

 

[corgi_monster]

I think it's great that she has them call her Dr. Smith. When I was that age, I already KNEW that I was going to college. I thought is was like middle school or high school, you HAD to go to college or the police would take you to jail. I didn't realize it was a choice until AFTER I got to college - go Mom! (I went to a demanding high school where 99% of the kids go to a 4 year college.)

If, at that age, I had known there was a level of education "above" college, I would have naturally assumed that I would eventually have to get a doctorate.

 

[Imzadi]

Dr. Phil McGraw of the Dr. Phil Show, and one of Oprah's trusted advisors is a Ph.D not an MD. No one seems to have problems with him calling himself Dr. Phil, or people on the show calling him that every few minutes. Why is this different? A teaching Ph.D is less than another kind of Ph.D?

 

[Tiffer]

One of DS's former teachers (9th grade) has a J.D. and she insisted on being called Dr..

That is unusal though. I have never met a lawyer that is called Dr.

Why would it be pretentious in a professional setting?

The only place it might be pretentious is in a social setting.

If you are dealing with 6 year olds.....it is odd. IMHO.

Lawyers can be called "Esquire." I know many that put that at the end of their correspondence.


As long as Dr. Smith isn't the Dr. Smith from the original Lost In Space, I wouldn't have a problem with him.

At the end of their correspndence yes. Usually in a professional correspondence though. It is done to identify yourself so the recipient knows they are communicating with an attorney. It is common in a law offices that Paralegals and Legal Assitants sign letters.

Lawyers don't usually walk around verbally calling themselves "Joe Smith, esquire".

 

[Tiffer]

Dr. Phil McGraw of the Dr. Phil Show, and one of Oprah's trusted advisors is a Ph.D not an MD. No one seems to have problems with him calling himself Dr. Phil, or people on the show calling him that every few minutes. Why is this different? A teaching Ph.D is less than another kind of Ph.D?

That is also for entertainment value. He is a T.V. personality.

 

[meandtheguys2]

A PhD has been educated to the same degree an MD or DO. Of course they deserve that title. You can't throw a brick without hitting a Phd in our town, and most enjoy the title Dr. I don't use it, except at the college. I'm not big on trying to out rank anyone.

I hope this particular Doc is kindly, caring, and an awesome teacher.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

I'm willing to say that he doesn't deserve his title. Anyone who has spent 24 or more years in school and writes in such a pedestrian manner needs to have his credentials reviewed.

We were allowed to call our professors in college by their first names even as an undergraduate. But, if we wanted to address them formally, we had to call them Dr. X or Professor Y. It's a mark of respect for something they worked very hard for.

Kathy, we're a bit more formal here in the US. Though some schools encourage professors and students to address one another with first names, most stick with the "Dr." or "Prof." titles. Some of my colleagues who were trained in Australia find the US practice quite silly.

Lawyers can be called "Esquire." I know many that put that at the end of their correspondence.

This has always looked pretentious and sexist to me. Technically, "Esq." is a title for men, not women. I roll my eyes every time I see it.

 

[emma'smom]

I am curious as to how many of the folks who find using "Dr." pretentious actually have an earned doctorate themselves? Maybe you wouldn't feel tht way if you knew how many long nights that teacher spent burning the midnight oil writing a dissertation.

I actually go by my first name in my college classroom, but that is because I see my college students as adults. I would expect non-adults in a professional situation to address me by my last name...and I am not "Mrs."....I am Dr. I earned that title with 10 years of academic blood, sweat, and tears (not to mention 100K in tuition dollars)!

First graders or freshman...it is still a professional situation. Now, I don't expect my neighbor's children to call me "Dr." because it isn't a professional situation.

 

[Galahad]

I actually go by my first name in my college classroom, but that is because I see my college students as adults. I would expect non-adults in a professional situation to address me by my last name...and I am not "Mrs."....I am Dr. I earned that title with 10 years of academic blood, sweat, and tears (not to mention 100K in tuition dollars)!

My wife is physician and unless she is in the hospital/office, she insists on being called "Mrs".

I am curious as to how many of the folks who find using "Dr." pretentious actually have an earned doctorate themselves?

I think there are quite a few who have earned doctorates on these boards who prefer not to be addressed that way - not sure about pretentious - but at least unnecessary.

 

[katiebsmom]

I am curious as to how many of the folks who find using "Dr." pretentious actually have an earned doctorate themselves? Maybe you wouldn't feel tht way if you knew how many long nights that teacher spent burning the midnight oil writing a dissertation.

I actually go by my first name in my college classroom, but that is because I see my college students as adults. I would expect non-adults in a professional situation to address me by my last name...and I am not "Mrs."....I am Dr. I earned that title with 10 years of academic blood, sweat, and tears (not to mention 100K in tuition dollars)!

First graders or freshman...it is still a professional situation. Now, I don't expect my neighbor's children to call me "Dr." because it isn't a professional situation.

ITA!!!!!