School's position on death and childhood: (De)construction of silent walls

Abstract

The school is a space to mediate reality, influencing the elaboration of experiences for the student's development, such as grieving real and symbolic losses. This article consists of a descriptive exploratory qualitative research with seven teachers of four public elementary schools from the inland of Rio Grande do Sul State, seeking to understand how these professionals perceive the theme of death in schools and the challenges with students, especially children. The content analysis was performed and all ethical principles were respected. School and teachers assume important roles in the emotional development of the child and in supporting them in times of crisis. The existing barrier in schools in terms of addressing death shows the fear of not having the answers and crossing the line when it is the family role. These teachers seek, through possible openings for approaching death and playfulness, to work on the students' grief and fears, so they can be a support throughout this experience.