In the education field, the non-mother teachers mistake that phrase as a shot at them and take it personally. Those who say it give off the impression that being a mother will make you a better teacher. That's certainly something one can debate. Does being a mother make you a better teacher? There is no way to resolve this matter.
There are definitely connections that can be drawn from this issue and the press our school has received from becoming the first non charter public school to switch to an all vegetarian lunch menu. The goal of this switch wasn't to enforce vegetarianism on our students and make controversial statements such as being vegetarian makes you a better student. There are many factors that contribute to a student achieving academic success. The vegetarian lunch menu was a way to provide alternative healthier meal as opposed to the processed unhealthy foods our students were getting prior to the switch. We believe that eating healthier and staying active are two of many things which contribute to doing well in school. If there were a healthier meat option, I'm positive it would have been taken into consideration. A lot of information can be misrepresenting and perceived incorrectly.
Becoming a mother is a life experience that may bring positive influences into the classroom, but it could well possibly bring negative ones too (you never know). It's an experience I will never be able to understand because it is impossible for me to birth a child! So when that statement is made, I can understand why those who aren't mothers can take offense to it.
None of the mothers have ever come out and said being a mother makes you a better teacher. But constantly bringing up that experience and connecting to it doesn't help those who can't relate. Life experiences will always shape your perspective on things, but constantly stating it won't help those who hasn't had those experiences or make them understand better. Living with tourrette's syndrome has made me more aware and understanding of some of the behavior children may engage in that seem irritating and annoying. Coming from a home where alcoholism has torn my family apart has made me realize that there may be a reason for a student's emotional instability and behavior. It's a personal experience I keep to myself unless I'm asked to share it, and even then I'm uncomfortable.
Hopefully, all teachers became educators because they care for the well being of children. Being a mother doesn't make you care more. If anything, I believe being a teacher makes you a better parent. You are around so many children and you see what some parents do right and what they do wrong. I can't help but admire the awesome parents who are raising awesome children and take notes in hopes that someday I can do the same for my future child.
The intent of this was not to bash mothers. I love my own mother very much. And from what I see, there are great mothers at our school whose children are very lucky to have them as a parent. It's just to bring awareness to being careful of what you say and how you are being perceived by your audience.