Primary School Decides To Ban Mother’s Day

A primary school’s decision to ban Mother’s Day has sparked debate among parents on social media.

Last week, Albert McMahon Elementary in Mission, British Colombia (Canada) sent home a letter informing parents of the decision to cancel the Mother’s Day in order to “nurture students who are part of non-traditional families.”

The decision was made after a group of grade 1 and 2 teachers at the school assembled to discuss the upcoming celebrations.

The letter reads:

Obviously, parents reacted to this decision, and one parent at the school, Roy Glebe, took to Facebook to express his disappointment over the issue.

“I think disapointed [sic] is an understatement. This will be the first year that we don’t get gifts crafted with love from our kids, and since we only have one little one now it makes it all that much worse. I dont understand why we, as Canadians, need to give up our traditions that have been passed through generations. I welcome all races and ethnicities, but forcing us to give up things that are important to us as Canadians is crap. And it doesnt even have anything to do with religion? You cant celebrate your Mom and Dad?” he wrote.

Mr Glebe explained that he said he wasn’t trying to hit the school. He just wanted to hear other parents’ opinion about the issue. “I wasn’t trying to hang the school out, I literally posted it for discussion,” he said.

He said the school didn’t discuss the issue with parents and says he did find that “a little odd.” “I think they could have found a better way for all the kids to participate instead of saying no to everybody,” Mr Glebe said.

He explained that he and his wife were upset about it because their child, who is in Grade 2, is their last child and he said his wife was excited for her child to have Mother’s Day. “The way my wife describes it, is the look on your child’s face after working for weeks and weeks and coming out [of school] and all of the secrets and everything else, and they’re finally able to show you this thing that they’ve not been able to talk about for weeks and weeks; that to [us] is special,” he said.

Some parents agreed with Mr Glebe and said that it was “political correctness gone mad” and the “ultimate nanny state.” “So very sad for all the mums or loved one that nurtures our kids! I still own a special little box and wrapped up with pretty paper and ribbons given to me by my now 20 yr old boy! Inside is a little boys single kiss for his mummy! So precious to me to this day,” said one mum

However, there are others who supported tha ban, with one woman saying that her granddaughter doesn’t want to go to school on Mother’s day celebration after she lost her mother to breast cancer.

Another described the ban as “brilliant.” “I can’t believe how many people think this is a bad thing – this is BRILLIANT. At school, there was always one student whose mother/father had died or abandoned them and they would be in tears at the mention of these holidays. Not to mention, as part of a blended family support group, I’ve seen so many step mothers suffering, dreading the school Mother’s Day crafts, which are only made for the “real” mother, and not for them. Even if they love and care for the children the same way a real Mum would do,” the parent said.

However, it’s not the first time that Mother’s Day and Father’s Day have been cancelled. In 2013, a school in Nova Scotia, also in Canada cancelled the said celebrations and replaced them with a “Family Day” commemoration. The school chose to observe the International Day of Families, an annual event that is recognised by the United Nations, and falls on May 15th.

Source: Kidspot.com.au