“Miss” and “Sir” in schools

[MyCleverGrayBear]

Been to lots of secondary school open days recently. At the state secondaries the children showing parents around etc called the teachers “Sir” and “Miss”. Is that normal? I haven’t heard this IRL ever.

(To be clear, “Miss, this parent wants to know about languages at school” vs “Mrs Jones, this parent would like to see the sports centre”. But also in a couple of classrooms there were children constantly saying “Miss, look at this, Miss, I’ve out the sign up, Miss, shall I stand here” etc and it was incredibly grating.)

And why are female teachers “Miss” and make teachers “Sir”? I felt like I was in a bad 80’s Grange Hill episode and Benny Hill was about to run in and chase me 🫣

Yes, that's normal

As a female member of staff I hate being called Miss, it seems less respectful and professional than Sir but I'm not sure what a better alternative would be.

I want to know what the OP does. And what she gets called at work.

To me it sounds lazy and rude.

Every teacher on here is telling you it isn't.

I do know. It’s not the culture in their current schools. I’m there often enough and they talk about school a lot. They always use full names.

@Piggywaspushed

So, newsflash - children follow the culture of their particular school!

Out of interest, what would they call a dinner lady? Or a site agent? Or a cleaner?

This came in after I had written my post so I will amend to 'virtually' every teacher but she still isn't saying it's lazy.

I have never heard it being said in a way that would be defined as rude.

Bog standard comp in late seventies/early eighties it was a mix of Sir or Miss in normal classroom situations but if you went to see a member of staff for help or went to pass on a message from another teacher you would address them by Mr/Mrs/Miss Surname. Same with initial greeting ie Good Morning class the reply was Good Morning Mr/Mrs/Miss Surname. Oddly the German teacher was Frau surname all the time whilst the French teachers were Monsieur or Madame never Mademoiselle. Sometimes the PE teachers would address us as Miss Surname usually if someone had done really well or really badly and collectively as Ladies ie come on ladies you can run faster than that! Boys were always addressed by surname by the PE teachers and only the PE teachers.
Dgs1, a new year 7, is all Sir and Miss.

Mummy. Mum. Mum Mama. Doctor. Mrs Bear. Miss Bear. Dr Bear. You! Now!

I prefer She-Ra but not many people go for that.

Other people have agreed with me in this vastly long thread.

It sounds rude TO ME. It clearly doesn’t to you. But I’m not used to it and found it strange not to use a full name for a member of staff. That’s all.

When I am working at a clients site I get called all sorts of things
some sexist
some ageist
many not recognising my professional ability
ah well

@MyCleverGrayBear again it's just like a job title and it's quick shorthand.
In court you hear people say "Yes Judge" or "Yes Your Honour" but not their name when speaking directly to the Judge.
But if some was talking about the case they might say "The judge was Judge Sarah Smith".

It isn't rude.

It is not said in a spirit of rudeness.

Your OP focused on sir and miss but your beef seems to be mainly with miss. Those on this thread who don't like it seem generally OK with Sir, tbh- or not so vexed. Their issues seem to be equality rather than ideas of laziness or annoyance to the ears.

Schools that have a culture of sir and miss are not imposing this culture to encourage rudeness or laziness, or shortcuts .

I'd rather a child called me 'miss' if they didn't know me than staring at my chest to read a lanyard, in all honesty!

The friendliest, most delightful girl I teach greets me with a cheery 'Hi Miss!' every lesson. It cheers me up. She knows my name.

My secondary school in the 80s also used Ma'am and not Miss for female teachers.

Miss and Sir was completely normal when I was at secondary school (left in 2009).

Primary school was always Mr Smith or Mrs Smith etc.

Secondary school was Miss and Sir.

Then college moved to first names.

Good for you. I dislike both Sir and Miss being used by children who know someone’s name. I’m allowed to dislike it. I’m allowed to think that it’s lazy.

A child greeting a teacher cheerily is great. Whatever they address you as.

It still jars for me. There are Levels of politeness and respect and even though “morning Miss” is ok, “morning Miss Piggy” would be even better, just as “yo” would be less polite.

Fair enough to argue that's it custom in the UK for teachers yo be called Miss/Sir but crazy to think it would be so difficult to use actual named on a school.
In my country teachers either go by their given names (more common in primary) or title and lastname (more common in secondary) and everyone manages just fine. Much like people do in large workplaces.

How petty would I be if I told that lovely girl to amend her greeting??

Anyway, 'Morning, Mrs Piggy' sounds far more formal. They also get those wrong A LOT. All female teachers become Miss so and so, in general.

Bob, in year ten, called me "mate" yesterday. We have agreed that now we're friends, he'll buy me an excellent Christmas present.

Today, we were back to "miss". I'm mourning the loss of my gift. I don't think he's lazy, though. Not in terms of my name, anyway.

I don’t really know where it comes from as they call their primary school teachers by their name. I don’t mind though, they call me far far worse behind my back and sometimes to my face haha.

Been teaching in England for 30 years. This has always been the case in my experience.

Depends on the area of the UK. Very common even in primary schools where I've taught but 30 miles down the road not common at all!

@Piggywaspushed would probably not believe this possible 😂

I have never said that. We do both! Depends entirely on context and circumstances.

Why? She probably gets called by her first name unless she is a teacher or doctor?

what difference would it make to the discussion?