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Article
/ 13 May 2008

Valuing our mothers

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The traditional role of the mother is synonymous with child bearing, nurturing the young and care for the growing child. Although women have long moved out of the house and into the workplace, crashing through glass ceilings along the way, their traditional role as ”mothers” has overwhelmingly remained intact.

The very first stimulation of the child comes from the mother. Most of this stimulation is instinctive and is among the earliest lessons the child receives. Teachers often use the occasion of Mother’s Day to teach the important role of mothers. This is in particular true in the primary schools – in the foundation and intermediate phases.

Teachers can use the context of Mother’s Day to teach their learners certain values, skills and norms. This could be a very a stimulating experience for learners.
However, teachers should be very careful in dealing with this topic in the wake of the fact that there might be children that are not in the care of their biological mothers. There might also be circumstances such as broken families, abuse and neglect.

Lesson plans should therefore be carefully designed not to exclude certain learners. Here are some guidelines:

  • Create an atmosphere conducive to sensitive topics. Explain that all children do not live with their own mothers, but those who care for them serve as their mothers and fathers. In school, teachers act as parents.
  • Never introduce private topics in public, such as telling everyone: ‘Mary’s mother died of an Aids-related illness”.
  • Use the third person and three-dimensional approach to deal with sensitive topics. This could be done by telling a story of a child who does not have a mother.
    Teachers don’t have to see a lesson on Mother’s Day as an add-on to an already full learning programme. They should consult the national curriculum statement on life orientation for grade one to six and find the assessment standards in learning outcome two, which can be used to plan an interesting lesson.

    Here are some ideas that can be used to develop lessons on Mother’s Day:

    Foundation phase

    Grade one

  • Integrate life orientation with the arts and culture. Design a Mother’s Day card.
  • Make up little artefacts and wrap them as presents for mothers.
  • Take learners on a field trip in nature. Look around in nature and use natural materials such as beautifully-shaped stones or wood pieces to write up inspirational messages for mothers: ”Mother, I love you!”
  • Write a little poem (as part of a literacy learning programme).

    Grade two
    List the qualities of a ”good” mother. This should be very stimulating for learners because they will draw on their instincts and experience. Expect to deal with issues such as love, caring, happiness, enjoyment, protection, learn and teach.

    Grade three
    The concept of sharing, giving and acceptance come to the fore. These are the first concepts that mothers teach their children. Use these concepts and ask learners to role play using each theme, portraying how mothers teach children the very basic values, skills and knowledge of life. (Integrate life orientation and arts and culture within the literacy learning programme).

    Role-play scenarios:

  • Group one portrays a mother that is very charitable and generous, who likes to give to her children and respond to the needs of not only her own children but also other children in the community.
  • Group two portrays a mother who teaches her children to have a good self-esteem. In this role play the learners should use the following ideas: you must have respect for yourself; you must have a high regard for yourself; and you must admire yourself for what you are.
  • Group three will portray a mother who teaches her children to have a positive self-image. She will teach her children to accept themselves, to take pride in what they do, to accept their weaknesses and strengths and to accept their personalities and character. These are God-given qualities that no man can take away from anyone.
  • Group four provides for a mother who will teach her children self-confidence. She will teach her children to believe in themselves, to be self-reliant. She will teach lessons that illustrate the following: be proficient in what you do; and be prepared, organised and ready for any event. Teachers should equip themselves with the necessary knowledge, skills and appropriate attitudes to achieve success.

    Intermediate phase
    In this phase learners should be taught how to respect their mothers.

    Grade four
    Learners should know how to show respect towards elders in a variety of situations in different cultural contexts. Mother’s Day is an opportunity to show respect and obedience to mothers.

    Grade five
    Learners should discuss the contributions of mothers and women in the home and the world.

    Grade six
    Highlight the role of children in the household and how they can help to make their mothers happy.

    In conclusion, mothers are the primary teachers of our children and the forbears of our future gene-ration. They should be respected and valued every day of their lives.
    Mother’s Day is a moment when we pause and dedicate our thanks and appreciation to all the mothers of the world. Happy Mother’s Day!

    Joseph Sitzer is a senior curriculum advisor for life orientation in the West Coast Winelands district of the Western Cape education department