Too strict? Liaoning Shenyang Institute of Technology bans students from calling teachers “brother, sister”

School of Energy and Water Conservancy, Shenyang Institute of Technology, LiaoningWeChat The public account “Shen Gong Energy Home” released a document on the 21st, saying, “From now on, all students will consciously standardize the titles of teachers and students. Addressing faculty and counselors as ‘brother, sister’ and equally using the proper and serious title of ‘teacher’ are strictly prohibited. All students should self-observe and correct themselves, remind each other, of random and irregular addresses. Habits must be abandoned, and teachers must be respected in their hearts and their behavior must be externalized.” This regulation caused a strong reaction among the people and the tweet was later removed. In this regard, some media reported that this control is too strict. Some scholars also expressed that they do not agree with the college’s “one size fits all” approach. The real meaning of dignity of teachers should not be ignored, but students should be guided to find the right balance between intimacy and dignity.

China News Weekly reported that the college said “teacher” is the most basic and serious confirmation of a teacher’s professional status. Students call faculty members arbitrarily “brother or sister”, which may weaken the sense of seriousness and boundaries between teachers and students, blur the roles of teachers and academics, and is not conducive to the construction of campus civility and academic style. Staff at the college’s Party and Government Office and the School of Energy and Water Conservancy said they could not be interviewed.

Chu Zhaohui, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Educational Sciences, pointed out that teachers and students are completely equal in terms of personality, and the seriousness between teachers and students will not end just by saying “brother, sister.” Students may be doing this to get closer, or they may be teasing the teacher when criticized. Both situations should be considered separately, so we do not agree with a complete ban.

Wang Yi, an associate professor of the Faculty of Law at Xiangtan University, said that in formal situations such as classes, awards, and academic security, you should address yourself as “teacher”, but in extracurricular activities, daily communication or psychological counseling, if the teacher-student relationship is harmonious, using “brother and sister” as a form of dialogue can help bridge the communication boundary and make students more willing to open up.

Xiong Bingqi, director of the 21st Century Education Research Institute, believes that instead of strictly regulating titles, it is better to clarify the rights and responsibilities of teachers and students, and improve the dignity of teachers’ profession. He pointed out that issues such as emphasis on scientific research and neglect of teaching in college evaluation deserve more attention. Scholars emphasize that the core of the teacher-student relationship lies in mutual respect rather than relying solely on titles.