What is in a name?

It’ one’s own brand, something that you’re identified by, anytime, anywhere. Well, have you been at a hospital and noticed how nurses and doctors display their names on nameplates? This is not only merely to reveal part of their identity, but also to ensure patients know who to refer to, whilst a name and job title can ensure people know who to go to for particular purposes.

Likewise, teachers are role models to students and should show pride in their work by having their name and job title on show at any time within schools. Displaying nameplates indicates that the teachers are proud of their career and are not shy of being associated with this noble profession. It is a sign of self-confidence in teaching as a career, but of course, there’s much more to a nameplate or name tag than that.

Children, especially the younger ones in lower grades are likely to confuse various teachers. However, they can always identify them by reading the names on nameplates, which is all the more reason teachers should have them on. Worse still is when colleagues have to refer each other as ‘that man’, ‘the lady in a red dress’ and such other descriptive terms. Nameplates would make it easy to learn a colleague’s name and there will still be the opportunity to read it again another day if you were to forget. This way, colleagues can address each other with more respect and a better connection. This will, in turn, be taught directly or indirectly to the learners as teachers are mostly double as role models.

Often, schools are frequented by visitors including parents and guardians. Laser marked brass nameplates which are nailed to each teacher’s door makes it easier for introductions and correct spellings and pronunciations of names, saving time and energy for both parties. Nameplates also give the teachers authority of some sort to direct people on how he or she wants to be referred to, as some prefer Ms for example, while others prefer Mrs and others just want their names without a title. It is so easy to just display a name for all to read instead of explaining; ‘I prefer this title’.

Nameplates in schools, hospitals, offices, construction sites and prisons should not be underestimated, and many businesses, large and small, ensure their doors are assigned names and job titles, so you know exactly who can be found where. For teachers, it’s probably more important, because at any one time there may be 20 or 30 students looking for a specific teacher’s classroom, especially if they’re new to the school, so nameplates go a long way, and they should absolutely never be underestimated. Nowadays, there are so many different types of nameplates to choose from, from brass to steel, plastic and wood, and these can either be etched by hand or machine. In some school, the DT departments carry out the work using school resources to get the job done, whilst it can be a fun project for students as part of their coursework.