ABSTRACT
Grief in the classroom is not always an isolated issue that affects only one or two children. Occasionally, the deceased is a member of the school population, either a student or staff member. If the death occurred at school, children will experience fear and anxiety along with grief, especially if they witnessed the tragedy. When violence was involved, many kids will be traumatized since their lives may have been endangered, too. Other times, a serious incident rocks the entire community, such as when a natural disaster takes place. In these cases, it is likely that some students will be directly affected while others are more removed from the circumstances, but the mournful atmosphere will influence everyone. Teachers, too, will be deeply touched and perhaps personally impacted. These situations require special care and awareness, and this chapter discusses ways to cope with these unique challenges.
