Job Discussion Forums

[Jetgirly]

Update: The student has stage-four cancer and its in at least four places in her body. Her parents have decided to send her back to school between chemo treatments. I'm a first-year public school teacher and I have NO idea how to deal with this. I've never taught a sick student and I've never personally known someone with cancer. Luckily admin has expressed concern about her returning to classes and I've been relieved of my responsibilities in terms of informing the class. We're meeting on Monday to chart a course of action.

[Songbird]

I was in this situation last March here in China. Went to class one day (university) and 1 student was away. Asked where she was and there was some uncomfortable shifting in seats, then 1 student just said she was sick. After class a few of her friends came up to me and said she was dead. Her body was found a few days earlier, a day after our previous class beside the local river. Nobody could get any answers what happened, even the students were just told she went home, but was exposed when the posters went up round town to get info as to what happened.

We all (me included) had a good cry, then the next week half of the lesson I devoted to the class letting out their thoughts, issues, tears etc. I had taught them for 6 months by then so felt they trusted me by then. Gave them a talking to about depression and suicide and how to release their feelings and anger. It was a hard time to go through though, don't want to experience that again.

[darkside1]

I teach disabled pupils, some of whom are very ill and others who know they have limited life expectancies. At least one pupil and sometimes more dies every school year. I realise that in a mainstream secondary school this will be an unusual situation; however, with human rights legislation more disabled/ ill students attend school than did previously. The point is that when such students are in school they should really take part in as many activities as they feasibly can. It may be that medical breaks will be required (usually nursing staff are near at hand rather than physically in the classroom); a classroom assistant can assist with accessing learning tasks and (if needed) toilet breaks. The student may at some point be unable to continue with schooling and recieve tuition in hospital or at home.

If a pupil dies there should be trained staff on hand to counsel pupils (now callled pastoral care in the UK; used to be called guidance). Pupils who are particularly affected get 'time out' (at appropriate times) to discuss their feelings with these staff (or with management or a councillor). Usually a memory book/ space is created to allow pupils (and staff) to share memories in writing, photos, objects etcetera about the person. There may be - in addition to a religious service outside of school - a school memorial service where there will be tears but (hopefully) laughter too as the person's life is celebrated. Personally, I would allow one lesson max. to deal with the class's grief then gently move on, taking time to deal 1-1 with any pupils who were close to the deceased and / or refering them to the specialist staff mentioned above. I have dealt with this situtaion in both mainstream and special education (where it happens more frequently and where staff and pupils are more used to it). It is not easy, but is sadly an all too frequent occurence in the high schools these days. You should be given support from specialist staff and ideally offered training in the future.