Citation

Stevenson RG. Death Stud. 1986; 10(6): 507-518.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1986, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/07481188608252850

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The impact of the shuttle disaster on America's schools was the subject of much speculation almost from the moment of the tragedy itself. This article looks at reactions which have taken place since the tragedy. It includes results from a questionnaire administered to teachers and students to examine their reactions four months after the episode, as well as a protocol for dealing with grief in the schools. Both teachers and students felt that they had been totally unprepared for such a loss but they expressed positive views of the role of the media in helping them search for personal "answers" following the shuttle explosion. One point of concern for some educators and parents was the use of "humor" as a coping mechanism by students. The topics of their jokes and stories revealed a concern with bodily integrity/disintegration after the shuttle explosion which they felt that they could not speak about in any other fashion. The protocol cited in the paper was developed at River Dell High School in New Jersey and has been adopted by a number of public schools. This protocol addresses the different approaches to individual loss and to those losses which have an impact on the entire school community.

Language: en