Meet Mitchell House ‘father’

“Hostel father” instead of “resident head”, is the term 16 Mitchell House boarding students use when describing Doug Friedemann.

Doug (55) and his wife Jenean recently moved to Polokwane from the Eastern Cape, where they both taught.

Jenean teaches gr. 4’s at Mitchell House.

Doug’s work as hostel father includes the running of the hostel.

“I have to oversee all the children, as well as the staff members who help out at the hostel. We provide extra lessons when it is needed and a supportive environment,” he says.

“We want to make it a home away from home.”

Construction of the building will be finished in a month, and then more learners will move in.

His favourite part of the job, he says, is to see how learners develop.

“The adolescent stage is a turbulent stage and it is an experience to see learners’ confidence grow. It is nice to see the learners grow, it is like a reward.”

Although Doug did not stay in a hostel while he was in school, he has advice for those who do.

“Just relax and enjoy it. It is not home, but you can make it feel like home. Accept your circumstances,” he says.

A typical day in the life of boarding student starts at 06:00 when learners get ready for school.

“At 06:30 we have a room check and then the learners have breakfast.

“This is followed by devotion and prayer and at 07:30 the learners go to school.

We provide snacks for tea time and they eat lunch with the rest of the school. In the afternoon they participate in sport.

“At 17:00 it is supper and then prep time starts from 18:00 to 20:00. Then they have a break, snacks and hot drinks. The seniors have the option of studying later than 20:00.”

“Children are an inseparable part of any family,” says Doug, and it’s very obvious that he is most proud of his own two children.

What are the things he has a dislike in?

“People’s lack of integrity and honesty”.