The idea of students calling teachers by their first names instead of Mr or Ms is 'not good for kids', says Ciara Kelly.

In his latest column for the Irish Independent, Newstalk Reporter Simon asked if modern classrooms should still require children to use titles to address teachers.

Simon said this practice is "archaic" in the article.

On Newstalk Breakfast, presenter Ciara Kelly disagreed and said titles are a "mark of respect" for teachers.

"I think it is hard enough for teachers these days to maintain discipline and authority in the classroom," she said.

"I don’t think it serves a society particularly well to have no respect for their teachers."

Ciara said that while her children's friends call her by her first name, she is "not in charge of those kids".

Children in a classroom raising their hands, Alamy

"I am not a 22-year-old teacher who just finished my HDip in a classroom with 32 18-year-old lads calling me Ciara," she said.

Ciara said children "need boundaries" in the classroom.

"Kids thrive in a structured environment," she said.

"Children don't need to live in a world where there are no rules - where there is no hierarchy.

"That's a scary world for children - it's not necessary and a little bit of respect for authority wouldn't do any harm for quite a lot of our children nowadays."

Co-presenter Shane Coleman said that society is "less formal" today and he is "not sure" if authority comes from children using titles like Sir, Mr or Ms to address their teachers.

However, he said he does not think it is a "bad thing" for students to use these titles in the classroom.

Feature image shows a teacher in front of a classroom on the left (Alamy) and Ciara Kelly on the right.