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Re: student killed - what to do

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ejb35_at_TeacherArtExchange
Date: Sun Nov 11 2001 - 09:05:35 PST

Quoting Deb Mortl <dmortl@hotmail.com>:

> Hi -
> I just got a call from my principal that one of my senior

Dear Deb,

In 1975 one of my students, also a senior, also popular (color guard
etc.) was killed in an auto accident after a game.

My students decided to make a pall for her casket. This was a Catholic
school. A boy in the class who worked at a department store was able
to get a beautiful piece of white cloth donated. The students
appliqued patches, made decorative stitches, sewed items to the cloth.
Some students painted on the cloth with acrylic. It was lovely.

But I was criticized as encouraging the students to "dwell on it."
This came from some of my colleagues. I would run any idea your
students come up with past the administration so that people will
accept the idea. I didn't do that, and would now.

Who knows, others may contribute to the project you choose to do.

After the funeral he girl's parents put the pall on her bed as a
memorial. The students felt good about their way of honoring their
classmate.

Best to you and your students. Because of the terrorist attacks this
may be a harder situation than it would be in "normal times.' Students
who did not show emotion during that time may need help now processing
a "real" death. So I hope counselors will be available.

Jane 

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