Title: The Pain of Losing a Parent - Educational Leadership
Headings: The Shrink in the Classroom / The Pain of Losing a Parent
The Shrink in the Classroom / The Pain of Losing a Parent
A Diagnostic Perspective
Developmental Differences
Younger Children
Adolescents
It Ain't Easy
Endnote
KEYWORDS
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Content: The Pain of Losing a Parent - Educational Leadership
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May 2003 | Volume 60 | Number 8
Keeping Good Teachers Pages 91-92
Issue Table of Contents
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The Shrink in the Classroom / The Pain of Losing a Parent
Steven C. Schlozman
For children and adolescents, the death of a parent is particularly difficult. Feelings of guilt and grief complicate the normal developmental tasks of separation and autonomy. The discomfort and awkwardness that young people experience often leave them feeling lonely and unsure of how peers and adults expect them to respond to their loss. Students' academic performance also suffers, as does their capacity to move forward developmentally and emotionally. Because of the broad range of both normal and troubled adjustments to parental loss, educators may be concerned about whether students are responding appropriately and about how best to help students as they grieve. A Diagnostic Perspective
Following the death of a loved one, most people tend to show many symptoms of clinical depression, including expressions of sadness, for about two months. Sad and withdrawn behavior that lasts longer than two months and interferes with a person's functioning, however, may indicate the onset of clinical depression in addition to normal grieving.