NCJ Number
202060
Date Published
1995
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This document provides information for school personnel on how to deal with death in student families.
Abstract
The goals of school professionals dealing with death should include acknowledging the death honestly; allowing the children to mourn and ventilate their reactions and feelings; providing a supportive presence; anticipating special needs; and offering an outlet for the children’s desire to help. Deaths of grandparents, other extended family, and pets are very significant for elementary school age children because they are often their first encounters with death. If the death of a family member of a student occurs during school hours, the student should be told by someone he or she trusts and sees as an authority figure. A teacher, counselor, other staff member, or even another student that is close to the child should be present when the child is told and should remain with the child until he or she is picked up from school. These principles apply to all classroom discussions about the death of a classmate’s family member, whether facilitated by a counselor or teacher. Before telling the class, teachers or counselors should get as much information as possible from the family about how the person died. They should tell the class what happened in terms of their own cognitive and developmental levels. They should avoid giving unnecessary information that would distress or confuse the children. After telling the children, teachers and counselors should set aside at least 30 minutes and offer students the opportunity to share their reactions. Teachers and counselors should verbally acknowledge or write each adjective or phrase describing a reaction on the chalkboard. This may help the students feel that their expressions are acceptable. They should set aside time for written expressions for the bereaved classmate, plan for the return of the bereaved classmate, and look for trouble signs when the bereaved classmate returns. In dealing with the death of a teacher or classmate, administrators should gather as much information as possible regarding the death; tell the affected class before telling the rest of the school; and discuss what will happen at the funeral, if some or all of the class chooses to go. Procedures may differ for middle and high school students because of frequent classroom changes. 16 references