ABSTRACT
Because grief is a universal experience, we must realize that bereaved students are present in our classrooms at any given time. The intensity of this emotional response guarantees that many of these children will carry their struggles into their school day. Historically, this topic has been neglected by much of society. Teachers and other school personnel should be aware of the potential for grief to influence their pupils and be trained to deal with the situation. While empathy is essential, this alone is insufficient to help a child in mourning. Educators will benefit from understanding how kids grieve and should acquire specific skills to help them cope. This chapter makes a case for incorporating such trainings into professional development and related coursework.
