General considerations about the need for pedagogy on death in formal education. A case study

The pedagogy of death is an emerging subject in education, especially in Spain. Human finitude is a taboo topic that is difficult to eradicate both socially and pedagogically. In contrast to this view, we focus on the need for training in human finitude based on the consciousness of death in the field of formal education. A case study of two schools in Lleida, Spain, was carried out. Professionals of education, psychology and/or educational psychology were administered a questionnaire designed specifically for the purpose of the study. The results of the questionnaire and interviews show that teachers feel unprepared for educational activities regarding situations of death and grieving children and youth. Finally, we advocate that teachers receive specific training and propose a series of general strategies to face death in the context of formal education in order to break the taboo of death in the teaching profession and educational psychology.