In England a group of academics are campaigning for school children to address their teachers by their first names. According to them, calling men “Sir” and women “Miss” are depressing examples of how women are given a lower status than men. “Sir is a knight and Miss doesn’t match “Sir” at all”(!).

Oh, dear! How I wish they never expanded the university system if they had to employ these narrow-minded people with so little to do and such expansive mouths. Epicurus would comment that the purpose of these words (Sir, Miss) is to offer some distance and respect, something you need with a crowd of cheeky teenagers who are seldom taught respect at home. For centuries the young were taught to use the words Sir, Madam, Grandad etc, because discipline was easier to instill in them if you did so. Put it another way, familiarity breeds contempt. Let’s get back to calling teacher “Madam” if that offers better status, but please not first names! Teachers are not waiters!