Sir/Ma'am and it's use in CoS

[Ali]

Amy said:-

>>>Re:  HP, IIRC, "sir" does appear in canon; Harry calls Dumbledore 
sir.<<<

My problem with the film, isn't the fact that "sir" is used, it's 
where it's used. I've simply never heard a British kid call anyone 
other than a teacher "sir". Calling a teacher "sir" is fairly 
commonplace, but an uncle, or a train guard, absolutely no. Likewise, 
I cannot imagine any kid calling a teacher "Ma'am". "Miss" is very 
common - whether the teacher is married or not, but Ma'am. Still, 
Richard Thorp says he has to say "Ma'am" at his school, so it 
obviously does happen - occasionally.

I notice that in the books the kids always call the female teachers 
*Professor* so-and-so to neatly bypass any questions about their 
marital status, the title "Miss" or "Ma'am" is thus avoided.

Ali

Who always gets embarassed - and a bit giggly if someone calls 
her "Ma'am".