Of all the nonsense I have heard talked in education circles, perhaps the most nonsensical has been the suggestion that primary school pupils should call their teacher by his or her first name.

I have heard teachers justify this with statements like "it removes an unnecessary level of authority and encourages more curious and questioning children" or "using Christian names changed the learning dynamic".

This in a country where nearly one third of our children are not learning to read write and do maths to the required level.

Teachers need to be authority figures. They are the adults in the relationship. They should know more, a huge amount more than the children that they teach.

There needs to be authority and discipline in schools. And there needs to be respect for teachers. The use of honorifics like Mr, Mrs, Miss and Ms are part of how pupils show respect for their teachers.

There is much to be said for the values of the past.