‘Sir’ and ‘Miss’ in schools is everyday sexism

We use Miss/Mrs or Mr surname.

Sir is rarely used and when it is , it’s mostly by older staff and as a “shortcut”

“Sir, you need to fill in this form.” because it’s shorter/more expedient than “Mr. Smith , you need to fill in this form.” .

On the very rare occasion children use it , it’s in the same manner so it doesn’t actually feel that much more respectful to me.

I’m Miss Whenyousaynothingatall or Miss W. A couple of kids will call me Mrs because that’s what they call everyone and I don’t care enough to correct them . I also get called mum, nan and even dad once or twice.

We had to stand up for a teacher's entrance - not bow/curtsey though - and this was in a rough 1980s comprehensive that made Grange Hill look like Malory Towers! It didn't have any positive effect on general discipline.

I'm a teacher. I would haaaate to be called ma'am or madam! I would also hate to be called by my first name so I'm perfectly happy with Miss or Miss PurpleDiva22

I don't mind it when the children call me Miss if they aren't sure of my name but it sets my teeth on edge when one of the male members of staff calls me it because he can't be arsed to remember my name.

It should be Sir or Ma’am, or Master and Miss(tress). I hate “Miss” myself.

What an exceptionally low bar for civility and respect.

It's Mam but with a slightly longer a sound!

Yeah of course it's sexist. Just because 'that's the way it is' doesn't mean we don't live in a patriarchal society with misogyny baked right in! Like the fact that Mr exists and no single equivalent for an adult woman - we get defined by whether we're married or not as women. Historically women weren't actually allowed to teach after they married (marriage bar) so please don't think there's not a hugely problematic history behind it.

It was Sir and Miss at my kids' school but fortunately I've raised a raging little feminist who noticed this on her own at about age 8 and started calling them all Mr and Ms Surname.

I'm fascinated to hear how Ma'am is pronounced in different parts of the UK! Mam? Marm? I can just imagine how it would sound down here in SW England! 😆

It’s really not something I could get my knickers in a twist about tbh. As long as parents bring up their children having respect then it’s just a title they are instructed to use.

My gravitas in my classroom is not based on whether they call me miss, sir, Mrs Hamlet or mum

The production team tells them to call him Lord Sugar. Karen tells them to call her Baroness Brady! She's been shown correcting the contestants a few times now.

As long as I’m not called “oi” or “bitch” I’m happy.

I answer to “miss” even though I’ve been teaching 25 years so I’m ancient. Pupils who know me are more likely to greet me by “Mrs …”.

DD calls her female teachers “madam”. DS is in primary so it’s always full names.

At my DS's school it is Sir or Ma'am.

Does everything have to have a ‘meaning’ behind it? 🥱 🥱 🙄

In my kids school they say Sir and Miss. Don't think there's a lack of respect towards the female staff at all - it's a pretty strict school and they'd come down on any disrespectful behaviour like a ton of bricks!

DD’s school it was sir and ma’am

Teacher here, I don't like it and it is the culture in my current school. So I'm expected to call a 22yo NQT 'Sir' and he calls me 'Miss'.. I don't like it so I just call him Mr X and no one even notice except me, ha!
Principal will say 'Good morning Miss' and I just reply 'Good morning Mr Y'. My little private rebellion! I don't mind Ms Z, as I'd been in previous schools, but to be known only as 'Miss', I don't like and the word itself makes me think of a 12yo!

Surly all pupils should know their teacher’s last names, so Mr X / Miss X / Mrs X. At least that is what they are at my DC’s school.

It's why I've always hated that men are 'Mr' and women's titles are entirely based on their marital status like they're still considered property of men, be it their husbands or fathers.

It's misogynistic and shit. And why I didn't change my name upon marriage and prefer Ms

At my DC's state secondary it is Sir and Ma'am.

I completely agree.

’Miss’ is a sign of respect.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with it and using a teachers first name or calling her madam etc isn’t going to reduce any disrespectful or sexist attitudes because those attitudes are completely unrelated to her title.

I've been a teacher for decades, and agree with @softlyfallsthesnow

Teachers learn 30 names for each class, and pupils only need to remember one. IMO it is rude to do anything but learn their name.

I’m a teacher and get called Miss, male teachers get called sir. Sometimes I’m called sir, or mum by mistake! It honestly doesn’t bother me at all, it’s just a ‘name’ for female teachers. Children aren’t trying to be insulting. I’ve never been called miss outside of a school context, I think all children seem to understand it is only in school. Funnily enough all my students go out of their way to make sure they write my full name correctly on their books (Mrs X).

I’m making the point about equivalents. As others have in fact said is the case at their schools, Madam/Ma’am is the equivalent of Sir, not Ms. As can clearly be seen in what you use to address the king and queen.
And of course Sir has more gravitas that Miss or Ms. That is clear, not sure why you’re denying it.