Curious, What would you do?

Sxia

I love my kids preschool. Only one thing. The 2 yo class teacher, insists on calling kids by their full name. I guess so it's not a "baby" name, but there are no Billys or Bobbys, only Williams or Roberts. On DS' first day, (they'd known him since birth, and we've only ever called him Max for 2 years.) They'd also been calling him Max. But when he started school, the teacher called him Maxwell. I asked her to call him Max and she told me of this "policy". DD was only "allowed" to be called Sammie because there were 5 Samanthas.

The next day, I told one of the other teachers (this teacher with the "policy" wasn't there yet) that I would prefer he be called Max. She's gone by this, but I notice the other kids are all Nicolas, Matthew, William, Tyler. I wonder, is that what the parents want them called? I know at least two kids go by Matt and Ty. Was I the only one who put my foot down? I figure, I got to pick the name and until he's old enough to do so for himself, I can tell people what to call him.

anthompson5

I agree with you...that "policy" is just ridiculous if you ask me! I would've said something to. What, supposedly, is the point of the "policy" anyway?

JinglesChic

I would be annoyed. DS's name is Michael, but he doesn't answer to it. He does go by Mick or Mickey, and I am pretty insistent that people call him that since we have a few other Michaels in the family (DH wouldn't let me name him anything else). But at the same time, it is the name that you gave him. My father and a few other people refuse to say Mickey and I just have to live by it. It's not like they're trying to push Mike or Mikey. I would find out if it is for sure a policy (what did the other teacher say?) but it might not be worth making a big stink. Again, it is the name that's on the birth certificate.

Sxia

They call him Max now, so I'm okay, but WTH? When you've been calling him Max for two years to just change because he's in the school now? His name didn't change. What bothered me most is his sister had started calling him Maxwell because they were correcting her at school. (Only for a day, but still.)

I think it's to make the 2 year olds feel like they're not babies, that they have to behave like the 3, 4 and 5 year olds and live up to that expectation more. They're not allowed to be called, "Babies" but are called "littles".

JinglesChic

No I definitely hear you. It would annoy me too. I'm glad that they're still calling him Max for now.

daenikoffre

I think it;s an odd policy, for sure. And I can understand that when you see a kid's name on paper, you say that full name and assume that's what the kid is called, but if they knew him as Max beforehand, and then get kind of... weird about their policy.. idk... I'd probably be just as perplexed and ask TheBump, too. haha What an odd situation! 

daenikoffre

Sxia:

They're not allowed to be called, "Babies" but are called "littles".

tbh, that'd irk me. 

brightyellow2

I could see if he was in "real" school. I would of told her I'm paying you to call him Max.lol Which they may have him go by his full name when he gets to school so it might be a good idea to get him used of it.

Sascha3

I would be really irritated.  Many people name their kids a name they do not intend on using...they have the nickname in mind already and that is what they use.  Especially find it irritating that they correct your daughter.

forensicmama

What I would do: Knowing the policy, occasionally call my son Maxwell and tell him that it's his full name (although he might not grasp this concept quite yet). Soon enough, he'll catch on in school. I wouldn't worry about it as much as you are.

aubreysmom1

Why does it matter if each kid is called by their full formal name? If I want my child called by her nickname or whatever name we call her at home, that is the name they should use...

Rachel Moriarty

My mother always insisted that we never shorten my sister Elizabeth's name to Liz. If we ever did call her Liz she would correct us and say "if I wanted her to be called Liz, I would have christened her Liz" so I can kind of understand why the teacher might have this policy. Although I do think if you specifically asked her to use his shortened name then I can't see why she would have a problem with it.

melody921

This would annoy me. I think parents have a right to call their children anything they want, and teachers should not implement a policy that, in my mind, has no point.

mollybloom

This is something that I have never understood. If you never planned on using Maxwell, why did you name him Maxwell? You could have just named him Max.

 

HAFranklin

I guess I don't get what the big deal is. I mean, his name IS Maxwell, and at some point, he will be called that. Is he not responding to Max anymore at home? I think that even a toddler can grasp the concept of a full name vs a nickname. I call my DS Cole J, Coley Moley, Cole Joe, etc, but he knows his name is Cole Joseph Lastname.

Just wondering...is there a reason you're against him being called Maxwell? Are you just afraid it will confuse him? Do you dislike his proper name (i.e. pressured to name him after a relative you weren't so fond of or something? lol)? I don't understand naming a kid something and then being upset that someone calls them that.

mama31

I am sorry that is so rude of her.  A teacher has no right to go against a parent's wishes.  I would insist on this and talk to the Director.  It may not seem like a big deal, but I think it is disrepectful.  It is your child not hers!

Moneypenny424

If he was in middle school or something, I'd understand this policy.  These are little children.  I think it is weird for a teacher to have this policy.  To me, the point isn't "If you didn't want him called Maxwell, name him Max," it is that the parents should have the choice of when to introduce a child to his/her full name.  I see nothing wrong with parents choosing to call their child by his/her diminutive name--I mean, it isn't like his nickname is Pookie or something and you're insisting the teacher call him that. 

Like PP said, I'd work with Max to get him to understand that Maxwell is his full name and that sometimes, he will be called that too.  This isn't the end of the world, but I also find it odd.

ubermoose

I think that's a silly policy. As long as the nickname is reasonably linked to the real name, I don't see a problem with calling a Benjamin "Ben" or a Maxwell "Max."

Especially if that's the name the kid associates with, it would make a kid feel weird if they think there's something "wrong" with being called that.

I understand that some preschools are trying to get kids to learn to spell their full names, so maybe they think this will be easier if they eliminate nicknames from the mix. I think they could get around this, but I've heard this reason before.

AlphabetFish

What the...?  Every teacher I ever had, when taking roll for the first time, would ask what people wanted to be called.  It's just common courtesy. 

She wouldn't insist on calling an adult by their full name if they didn't wish her to, so she shouldn't do it to children if that's not what they're called.  It can be confusing for a little kid to be called another name by their teacher than they're called by their parents.

This policy is bizarre, and if it's really bothering you, I'd say look into it and see if it's actually a real policy on the books, or if it's some personal thing she made up.