Most teachers in Kerala want ‘sir, madam’ to stay

Peers critical of teacher’s demand for scrapping of salutations on campuses

The recent demand raised by a college teacher to rid campuses of the British relics like ‘sir’ and ‘madam’ has triggered an animated discussion in the teacher community about the usage that is in practice for ages. Pradeesh K., Assistant Professor at Commerce Department, Government College, Chittur, had raised the demand soon after the Mathur grama panchayat in the district took a historic decision to ban such salutations. Mr. Pradeesh’s demand has invited sharp criticism in teacher groups. Some even went on to describe the demand as a means for cheap publicity. Rajani Ramachandran, an English teacher from Bharat Mata College here, said that there was nothing wrong in addressing a teacher as ‘sir’ or ‘madam’.