Impact of student death on teachers of the severely disabled

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of grief on teachers of the severely disabled. Specifically, four areas of inquiry were pursued: the pattern of grief reactions of teachers following the death of a student, the need for bereavement support services, the need for pre-service and/or in-service training, and the effect of student death on the professional and personal lives of the teachers.

Research was conducted on one student death immediately after it occurred. Four retrospective cases were also completed in order to gain information on the long range effects of death on teachers. Data were collected through review of the extant literature, informal direct observations, open ended interviews and review of the written documents.

Data revealed that there is a consistent pattern of grief reactions exhibited by teachers. All teachers interviewed expressed a need for improved bereavement support as well as a need for additional pre-service and/or in-service training in issues of death and dying. The degree to which student death constituted a stress factor in the teachers professional and personal lives appears to be dependent upon the amount of time and the type of activities which the teachers had shared with the decreased student.

Data analysis provided information for making recommendations to school systems, teacher training institutions and teachers for improving the quantity and quality of bereavement support.