BEREAVEMENT IN SCHOOLS
Helping
pupils
cope
Erik van der
factual story that can be found on the site is that of sue, a holding whole-school memorial services is they can then submit to the site. This enables students
mother of six and convicted heroin dealer, talking about another way schools can deal with death, and help to explore issues through participation and speak up,
Schaft discusses
the effect her prison sentence had on her family. support grieving or distressed students. This could giving their views and opinions.
By generating awareness of real-life scenarios and involve activities like planting a tree or lighting an issue such as death is extremely sensitive and
obstacles, it hopes to encourage students to talk about candles, and students could take part in readings, or distressing, yet unfortunately it is also a natural and
the impact that a
their feelings with their teachers, friends and family. It be encouraged to develop poems or songs to present inescapable part of human existence that will affect all
can help to further their understanding of distressing to the school. of us at some point in our lives. Discussing it openly
death can have in
situations and see things, like subsequent side effects, Mr conroy added: “On a whole-school level, we with young people will help them to feel less isolated,
more rationally, therefore enabling them to empathise once had an incident where a year 10 girl got knocked and ultimately, more secure at school. SecEd
schools, and discusses how
with others. over and killed by a bus. all the students heard about
TrueTube is one way in which a teacher can it and many were upset and worried about walking • Erik van der Schaft is editor in chief of TrueTube.
teachers can use TrueTube,
“transfer” the responsibility of generating awareness home from school. consequently, the school decided
of a subject over to a reliable outside source, if they to hold a memorial service to help the students grieve,
Further information
feel uncomfortable with providing guidance to students and to help reassure them. In each case, we have had to TrueTube is a not-for-profit teen debating website
a free website resource, to
themselves. alongside this, teachers could invite a look at the best way to deal with that situation, on an that can be used as source material to support
mental health officer, or other related exper
t, into the individual basis.” preparation for examined components, as well as a
help pupils to cope
classroom to talk to students, answer questions, and TrueTube also offers students the chance to create stimulus for coursework. TrueTube’s issue on dealing
give advice. and edit their own films for free using an edit suite with death will be broadcast on the site in april. visit
another way schools can prepare its s taff might provided by its partner Forbidden Technologies, which
www.truetube.co.uk
be by increased staff training. This could include an
eachers have a duty to ensure appreciation of the impact bereavement can have
T
young people receive the help and on learning, development and behaviour of students.
support they need to achieve their It could also include briefings from mental health
potential. This involves not only officers or psychiatrists on the process children might
educating their students by following go through when coping with death or a traumatic
the curriculum, but also monitoring experience, and the appropriate responses to support
their social and emotional wellbeing. these students. some schools employ support staff
an issue affecting every school around the country to deal with students’ social issues and concerns, and
is bereavement – something which teachers may find manage individual counselling sessions or bereavement
difficult to deal with. What do you do when a student support groups on-site.
of yours passes away? how do you react to a student Mark conroy, head of 6th form at sou t h b o r o u g h
whose father has died? how can you make your high school in surrey, said: “Most schools will have a
students more aware of the issues surrounding trauma pupil welfare officer, or something similar, who acts as
and suffering? support to teachers dealing with the emotional aspects
of student life. For example, a student can go to them
Impact
for advice or comfort if their parents split up.”
The sense of loss that results from the death of someone Pupil welfare officers, or education welfare officers
close impacts significantly on a student’s social and as they are also known, are social workers employed
emotional health, as well as his or her ability to learn by the local authority who focus on helping students to
at school. Grieving involves various stages of shock, engage fully at school, by offering support and helping
numbness, anger and sadness – emotions which can them to develop life-skills. They can also spend time
take months or even years to get over. working with parents, or on whole-school issues like
For young people, it is not easy to recover from a attendance. Teachers can take advantage of the support
major bereavement while concentrating on schoolwork, and expertise these welfare officers provide.
especially while suffering from the many side effects, Mr conroy continued: “at my last school where I
like sleeplessness, loss of energy, and loss of appetite. was head of year 11, two sisters lost their mother just
They may be fearful to leave family members, and before their Gcses. To deal with this, I call
e
d
a
t
e
a
m
even try to avoid school altogether. coping with death meeting where I informed all the year 11 teachers about
can also encourage violent behaviour or bullying, and, what had happened, and encouraged them to give the
in worst cases, alcohol or substance abuse. girls a ‘pass out’ in their lessons – where they could take
students could be affected by the death of a relative, some time out of the class with a nominated friend. I
the death of another class member, a tragedy within the also enlisted the help of our pupil welfare officer, who
school grounds, or the loss of a staff member. each of provided a shoulder to cry on.”
these will impact on the individual in a different way, and
some may need more care and attention than others.
Dealing with a whole-school incident
although not every school teacher will necessarily
Helping a student to cope
experience this, tragic circumstances on a whole-school
Unfortunately for school staff, they often receive little basis can occur, such as a student being stabbed.
or no training or guidance in this area, and dealing with This can cause a series of emotional and behavioural
something like the death of a student can be extremely upset among students, including anxiety, anger and
difficult. confusion.
TrueTube has been helping teachers cover sensitive To ensure teachers are aware of how to rea
c
t
in
t
h
e
s
e
topics in class since its launch in 2007. TrueTube is free, circumstances, a school could develop a s
does not judge, take sides, or think it has the answers
trategy or
plan that outlines measures to take if such an incident
– it does however see itself as a catalyst for discussion. occurs. They could involve experts and/or
p
o
l
i
c
e
t
o
By delving into complex subject areas, it provides ensure correct steps were in place, and that both staff
students with an informative insight into social, moral and students would be fully supported.
and ethical issues, including death, rape, abuse and again, resources could be used in class to increase
suicide – topics which traditionally go untouched by students’ understanding and awareness of gun crime,
educational resources. knife crime and other social, moral and ethical issues
It does so through three to four-minute films made relevant in the UK today. TrueTube’s No Good Can
with young people, parents, professors, charities, and Come From Gangs issue includes films of a group of
police – all giving their account of a certain issue. friends discussing the consequences of a stabbing, Mc
Oliver is an example of a teenager who made a film skitzo talking about losing her friend Kodjo to local
with TrueTube about his experience with depression, how gang violence in west London, and Denny talking about
he coped, and how he managed to get over it. another his life of crime and how he escaped it.
SecEd • March 12 2009 11
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24