SC+So,+boy,+don't+you+turn+back.

A major theme in this poem is not to give up, and that is what the mother is trying to tell her son in this particular line. The mother has seen ignorance on her journey up the "stairs", however she advises her son that since many different things can be difficult in life, he might come to a time where a challenge discourages him to the point of stopping. The mother mentions many times in different parts of the poem that she has never abandoned her goals and not given up trying to reach what she has wanted in life. She also proves to her son that in spite of the obstacles she has faced through in life, with her motivation and bravery she was able to continue making something of her life.

Keep exploring the idea of ignorance that the mother sees on her journey? Has her experience given her a certain type of intelligence, maybe different than a traditional schooling?