New Law Requires Politeness in Class

Gov. Mike Foster of Louisiana signed the nation’s first state law requiring students to address teachers as “ma’am” or “sir” or use the appropriate title of Mr., Miss, Ms. or Mrs. The Republican governor and other politicians said in Baton Rouge that the law will help return respect to the classroom. The law will apply to those in kindergarten through fifth grade beginning next fall. Higher grades will be phased in over the next few years, one grade per year. The law specifies no punishment. Each of Louisiana’s 66 school systems will decide how to discipline students refusing to respond politely. However, no student can be expelled or suspended.