Letter: Titles, sarcasm and tone: A plea for civil discourse

In reference to Robert Kirby’s column about titles, my personal favorite is one conferred on me by an eighth grader in a tone — challenging and with no disrespect intended — that only eighth graders can achieve.  “Who are you?  Are you the helper?”And speaking of tone, I helped students in my class — eighth graders and college students and those in between — and helped teachers on my faculty and helped members of my family avoid sarcasm.