Death Ed

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Maybe I'm misunderstanding what people want, the topic was death ed.
In school I recall reading books and having discussions where the main character dealt with the death of a loved one. With CPR we learned the expected outcomes. In the same class we also talked about comas, vegetative states and brain death. We also learned about hospice and palliative care. Euthanasia was discussed in current events due to Robert Latimer.
I doubt much of that has been reduced since I have been in school
 
Jae said:
A discussion guided by the teacher, correct?
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Yes, at that age it would have been fairly chaotic if it was left up to the class. The teacher wasn't encouraging one position or another. Most of us didn't take one position or another - it was mostly bringing up points both for and against. From my recollection few really made up their minds.
 
ChemGal said:
Yes, at that age it would have been fairly chaotic if it was left up to the class. The teacher wasn't encouraging one position or another. Most of us didn't take one position or another - it was mostly bringing up points both for and against. From my recollection few really made up their minds.
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It would be interesting to travel back there in time and see just how many points the teacher raised that were for vs. points against.
 
My memory of my first funeral was my maternal grandmother's. I must have been about 9. I remember my cousins and I getting the giggles and being shh'd.

I really had no concept.

Our kids went to funerals as part of their church life as older members of the church died. It helped them understand as death was normal.

I feel it would be good to discuss the physical aspects of death and different social norms related to death.
 
Jae said:
It would be interesting to travel back there in time and see just how many points the teacher raised that were for vs. points against.
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As far as I remember, nothing in terms of for/against. She started it off just by explaining what was going on, including reading excerpts from a newspaper article. The purpose was for us to come up with the points.
 
ChemGal said:
As far as I remember, nothing in terms of for/against. She started it off just by explaining what was going on, including reading excerpts from a newspaper article. The purpose was for us to come up with the points.
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What newspaper was it? What editorial bias did the newspaper have? See, this is the whole problem with having a course like Death Ed - some kind of values will be taught.
 
I think Tabitha asks a fair question @Jae - others have commented on their experiences & approach. You have made a point of saying that death ed should occur in the home, so it's fair to ask, IMO to ask how you are approaching this in your own family.
 
To play Devil's advocate a bit:

I do think @Jae raises a good point about both death and sex ed, though. While we think we can produce a values-neutral curriculum, can we? You can frame it any way you like, but you're still going to be at the mercy of the teachers and curriculum developers. Little M has had more than a few teachers who were anything but "values neutral" regardless of what was in the curriculum. Not saying I agree with him that it should be left to families and churches, but how do you not only make such a curriculum "values neutral" but make sure it is actually taught that way. And, to be honest, a curriculum that invites exploration and discussion of options rather than pushing an agenda is still technically not "values-neutral". Valuing openness and exploration is itself a value. It is not really a values-neutral approach. IOW, an agenda that encourages questioning of values and self-exploration is still an agenda.
 
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Agree Mendalla. Even history - witness discussions on First Nations issues - can be value laden. Not sure there is any particularly strong way around biases that creep in. That would be, IMO, where the discussion at home comes into play in a strong way - helping our kids in exploring, being curious about accepting what one hears/reads & how that fits with family knowledge, traditions, values.
 
To take that ("that" being Mendalla's post) to its logical and ridiculous conclusion, you'd be able to teach nothing but mathematics...
 
But shifty teachers exist in those subjects as well. If a teacher is not qualified and able to teach appropriately then the students education is at risk full stop.

You just may be able to help more in the arts
 
Just seeing if you walk your talk Jae. You say don't let teachers do it, parents and churches should. Just wondering Have you talked to any of the youth children in your household? I have had some conversations with my kids. Especially after their father died. But also more recently. My parents will likely pass away in next 10 years-perhaps 5. I have told them about what happens to my assets when I die as well.

How about others? Has this been a family conversation?
 
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