I think it's a matter of respect and there position as a superior to their students in not sure and I live in an English speaking country. Try your search engine of choice to be sure.

Euhm, it are not only English speaking countries who do that. But yes, it is specifically meant to create a distance. When I'm a teacher, I'll always keep my maiden name. My boyfriend's last name doesn't sound as good with a 'miss' before it.

I guess it's just a cultural difference, but I just knew that every English speaking country did it, at least. :) We like to have a close relationship to our teachers in my country, we get their e-mails, phone numbers and always refer to them by their first name, to me it makes it easier to trust them, being able to tell them stuff which helps you getting through your education easier, in my opinion.

I can't say for other countries, but in the US, it's just showing respect. I always thought it was weird before I moved here, but by now, calling people Ma'am and Sir is second nature. It doesn't necessarily distance you from them - it's just a sign of respect. I even catch myself saying "Yes Ma'am" to my grandma every once in a while. But for strangers, ESPECIALLY people WAY older than me, saying Ma'am/Sir just comes naturally. When it comes to names... Teachers are always Mr. or Mrs. or Coach. My World History teacher was the coach of some sort of team and we all called him Coach Oliver. Otherwise, I usually call people by the name they told me. My coworker, who is in her 50s, gets called Mrs Georgia. My manager is Mr. Steve. It's just the way it goes. Back when I lived in Germany, things like that were different. Usually, I called people by their first name. At school, it was Herr (Mr.) and Frau (Mrs.) [Insert Last Name]. People that are superior to you (whether it's age or status) are supposed to be treated with respect and in most cultures, that does include the use of titles like Sir and Ma'am.

Sure, they could be worse. Your ex's new wife could be one of your students and her mom could be the principal of your school. Yep, that would be worse. Damn! That's the basis of a fake FML I could have submitted and got my steenkeeng badge.

That's quite different and ****** up.

Obviously you've never worked in public education if you think that's a positive solution.

I did do some volunteer work for Junior Achievement and noticed the kids were stunned when I actually enforced some discipline. I got my revenge by going off script and teaching them communism. I had them singing "The Internationale," chanting "workers of the world, unite" and assigned them to tell their parents that "Religion is the opiate of the masses."