<P>' Sir', along with miss for females, is commonly used in the British school system to address teachers; and or members of faculty as well as staff . Usage of these terms is considered a mark of respect, and can be dated back to the 16th century . The practice may have been an attempt to reinforce the authority of teachers from lower social classes among classes of largely upper class students . Jennifer Coates, emeritus professor of English language and linguistics at Roehampton University has criticised the use of the title for male teachers, saying that "Sir is a knight . There weren't women knights, but' Miss' is ridiculous: it doesn't match' Sir' at all . It's just one of the names you can call an unmarried woman", and that "It's a depressing example of how women are given low status and men, no matter how young or new in the job they are, are given high status". This view is not unchallenged however . The chief executive of the Brook Learning Trust, Debbie Coslett, said "...they call me' Miss', I'm fine with that . They're showing respect by giving me a title rather than' hey' or' oi, you' or whatever", and dismissed the male / female issue as "That's just the way the English language works". </P> <P> In the Southern United States, the term' sir' is often used to address someone in a position of authority or respect, and is commonly used in schools and universities by students to address their teachers and professors . Whereas the British and Commonwealth female equivalent is miss, students will often refer to female teachers as ma'am . </P> <P> In the Northeast United States, particularly New England, there remains influence of both the British and French traditions as noted above; in general parlance, teachers, authority - figures, and so forth, are referred to by a title of respect such as' Sir' for males and' Miss, Ms, or Mrs' for females:' Miss' for unmarried, younger - females;' Ms' for senior, elder, or ranking females that may or may not be married (see article Ms / Mrs / Miss); and' Mrs' for married or widowed females . The predominant form of address remains "Sir / Ma'am", though in some sectors--such as service, hospitality, or politics--"Sir / Madam (e)" prevails, while in Northern Maine--Aroostock County & St John's Valley--most female teachers or public officials, regardless of marital status, are addressed "Miss" in English or "Madame" in French, though the two are not interchangeable . As noted in Coslett's statement above citing her personal acceptance of' Miss', generally teachers or other public officials may specify to which form they prefer, while in other cases social & cultural norms dictate the appropriate form . </P> <P> If not specifically using their rank or title,' sir' is used in the United States Armed Forces to address a male, senior commissioned officer or civilian . Privates and non-commissioned officers, such as corporals and sergeants, are addressed using their ranks . Similarly, in both the United States Air Force (USAF) and Royal Air Force (RAF),' sir' is used to address all male commissioned officers . Male non-commissioned officers and airmen are addressed by their rank . In the RAF, male warrant officers are addressed as Mr by commissioned officers, but as' sir' by non-commissioned officers and airmen . </P>

What does it mean to have sir in front of your name