tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070355695530434450.post8106842755444403103..comments2024-03-14T04:16:20.472-07:00Comments on In Socrates' Wake: when a student diesMichael Cholbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02012523929044363216noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070355695530434450.post-15172858253639901382009-04-09T19:02:00.000-07:002009-04-09T19:02:00.000-07:00While I don't teach at a collegiate level, I feel ...While I don't teach at a collegiate level, I feel obliged to comment, as one of my favorite students died today of viral meningitis. Her death was very unexpected, as she had been ill with flu-like symptoms for less than a week, and was only fourteen. Students and teachers alike were stunned to hear of her passing on the intercom system. Needless to say, this spawned alot of tears and public displays of despair.<BR/><BR/>It wasn't long before a long line of students formed at my door seeking comfort in some form or fashion. Ironically, I was so caught up in my own grief that I had failed to think of offering any solace. And, although I questioned my ability to help any of the students, it soon became clear that simply acting as a human--rather than a teacher--was all that was needed.<BR/><BR/>We hugged, we cried. At one point I offered humourous anecdotes about the young lady, which forced all of us to laugh and remember the joys of her life, if only for a few minutes.<BR/><BR/>My point? <BR/><BR/>Follow your gut. Think about how you would want to be treated. Think about the demographic composition of your students. Think about how you would want others to address your own death, if and when it should happen.<BR/><BR/>There are no textbooks that can accurately detail how we as educators should handle such tragic situations. However, I think that embracing our humanity will not only assist in the grieving process, but offer a plethora of teachable moments, as well. <BR/><BR/>No matter what subject, no matter what grade level, how we handle events like these can--and will--reach students in ways we can never fully imagine.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070355695530434450.post-48159983215946160392009-03-30T04:54:00.000-07:002009-03-30T04:54:00.000-07:00I'm very sorry to hear about your student. There ...I'm very sorry to hear about your student. There isn't a lot that someone can say in these circumstances.<BR/><BR/>If you haven't already seen it, Geoffrey Scarre's book Death in the Central Problems of Philosophy series by Acumen deals with death as a philosophical topic in a sensitive and interesting way.<BR/><BR/>It might provide some ideas on how to deal with situations like the distressing one that you find yourself in.<BR/><BR/>I would also feel inclined to raise the matter of how this news was broken to you. A bland impersonal e-mail should not be the way to deliver news like this, especially as the sender was probably completely unaware of how well you knew the student.Ethics girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17798099918612490108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070355695530434450.post-19557730690005387352009-03-23T20:10:00.000-07:002009-03-23T20:10:00.000-07:00Wow. That's a heavy first post, Vance. I'm...Wow. That's a heavy first post, Vance. I'm sorry to hear about your student. I've never had a student of mine die during the term (or after, as far as I know), and I've never thought about what I would do, either.<BR/><BR/>The only relevant experience I've had, I think, was after September 11. I was an undergrad at the time, and the first class I had after 9/11 was a philosophy of science class. Following the dean's suggestion to address the day's events in a discipline-appropriate way, the professor replaced the day's lesson with a lecture on the problem of evil. (I have no idea what, say, the chemistry professors did.) As a student, I thought it was a perfectly appropriate response—probably far more appropriate than going on with the syllabus as if nothing had happened.<BR/><BR/>The problem of evil lecture wouldn't have sufficed in your case, of course. Anybody have suggestions for specific topics that might be appropriate for the death of a member of a class?david morrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17628941227584383772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070355695530434450.post-35286952554490791742009-03-19T22:38:00.000-07:002009-03-19T22:38:00.000-07:00I have three experiences that might help. When I ...I have three experiences that might help. When I was a sophomore in college the student next to me died in a biking accident. Our French teacher in her late 60s didn't take it very well, and we ended up with a replacement faculty member for the rest of the term. As a young person, I never forgot how troubled the professor was, but our French class went on without the student and the professor. I don't remember if any counseling was offered to us. I know I didn't take it if it was.<BR/><BR/>As a graduate student at Florida State teaching my own section of a logic class, I had a student die before the first day of class. His car was sucked into a drainage ditch during a storm very near campus and was killed. Not knowing the student and not having started classes, I didn't change anything, but it made me think back to my undergraduate days and the death of the student in my French class. I also had long talkx with people about the situation even though I didn't know the student that died. But I can tell you that those e-mails are not they way to inform faculty members. I think a call should be in order for this kind of news.<BR/><BR/>My first semester (Fall 2005) as a tenure track professor at my current university (Western Illinois), I was teaching Environmental Ethics with about 15 students, and a student with health problems died. His name was Tom. His death was not expected, but it was well understood given his past health problems. Similarly, all the majors knew him and were stunned at his death. <BR/><BR/>I, like you, did not hold class that first day, but did allow students that wanted to talk about it then, say what they would like about Tom, life, death, or anything in particular that they wanted to talk about. After that point, I kept the class schedule the same and the reading assignments the same.<BR/><BR/>What I did for Tom and his family (and I guess for me too), however, was request from the Provost that we grant to Tom the BA in Philosophy since he was a major and had done lots of work toward the degree. Of course the chair and other members of the department supported the degree request. If your student was close to graduating, this might be an option you suggest to your chair and provost. <BR/><BR/>At a small school where you really get to know the few majors, this kind of thing is difficult to process. I don't think there is a perfect way to handle it, and of course the manner of the death might be relevant too. I tried to show compassion for Tom, his family, and my students that remained. But I didn't want the death to consume the class. So, I gently moved the class back onto topic the following class period after letting people that wanted to talk, talk.<BR/><BR/>The Provost agreed to award the degree and the department sent flowers and some went to the funeral. We ultimately got a nice note from Tom's family. I think it was the best our department could do under the circumstances.<BR/><BR/>I hope this helps a bit. I am sorry for the loss of your student, and hope that you can find a way to honor the life your student had that makes sense to you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com